Massachusetts blues

Provincialism abandoned the blues long ago, way back when artists escaped the Jim Crow south for Chicago and New York and beyond. This includes Massachusetts, where the superb guitarist/songwriter/singer Albert Cummings hails from. (Besides, as per Collins and King, it never hurts to be named “Albert” if you wanna play the blues.)

Besides, even if his own native skills aren’t enough, Cummings scored mucho street cred when drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon — Stevie Ray Vaughan’s rhythm section — pitched in to back the guitarist on his early “From the Heart” album. Though Cummings’ recorded output has slowed of late — his most recent release is the 2015 “Live at the ’62 Center” — he continues to scorch venues on a hectic touring schedule.

Cummings brings his band tonight to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook. Albert Cummings, 8 p.m. tonight, Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook; $35-$40; thekate.org.