The Mississippi Valley Blues Society is getting 2008 off to a great start by welcoming guitar master Albert Cummings and his band to the Isle of Capri Showroom in Bettendorf, Iowa (formerly Penguins Comedy Club) on Wednesday, January 16^th.

As suggested by the title of his recent release “Working Man”, Albert started out on the East Coast as a master carpenter. Blues fans everywhere can be grateful that he exercised caution around the table saw, since he didn’t start concentrating on guitar until he was well into his mid-twenties.

Many guitar slingers are described as sounding like Stevie Ray Vaughan, but few fit the description well enough to get SRV’s rhythm section to back them on stage and in the studio, as Cummings has done. Since recording his first album with Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton, he’s signed with the Blind Pig label and released several more CDs. In the interim, Cummings has performed or toured with the likes of Johnny Winter, Buddy Guy and B.B. King, who referred to him as “a great guitarist.”

Albert Cummings - Photo by Phil Koelhoeffer

The Isle of Capri Casino in Bettendorf has closed the Caribbean Cove Showroom, and its new showroom is located in the former Penguin’s comedy club, in the retail mall north of the boat and closer to State Street. The doors will open at 6:30 and the music will begin at 7:30, so everyone can make it to work the next day and tell their co-workers what a great show they missed. Ticket prices will be $10 for MVBS members and $12 for non-members. Advance tickets can be purchased at the MVBS World Headquarters at 102 S. Harrison in Davenport (just west of the Union Station Visitors’ Center) from 10:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Thursday. More information is available by calling (563) 322-5837 during those times.