Ruthie Foster
Runaway Soul
Blue Corn Music
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also available on amazon
This was far and away the biggest and most pleasant surprise to cross the desk this year. Surprise because she came out of the vast blue of the unknown. Ruthie Foster’s style runs the gamut of a combination of folk/blues/gospel/jazz and R&B. What she brings to the table that is so unique, and that has been unheard in quite awhile, is power of presentation. I don’t want to throw a comparison, however the power she puts forth I haven’t heard since the days of singers like Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle. She raised the level on this disc by including some of the finest players around under the guidance of the production talents of Lloyd Maines. Special note for me is the duet rave-up she does with Terri Hendrix on Joy. A power filled and emotional wrenching soul/blues that closes the disc on an efficaciously uplifting mood. This is a disc that has so many moments that it is difficult to pick a favorite it seems that there is a song that greets and elevates the mood to that higher plane. This disc has that power to uplift the mood and
awaken the spirits of the listener. She wrote, co-wrote and/or arranged 7 of the 10 songs here and there is not a weak one to be heard. For a debut disc, it is a stunner. I think it is up there as one of the best five discs I have heard this year.
She contributes acoustic guitar and piano as well as vocals, Glenn Fukanaga on upright and electric bass, Riley Osborn on B-3 and wurlitzer Gary Pimich on Harmonica, Cyd Cassone background vocals and assorted percussion, Lloyd Maines on dobro, acoustic guitar, bass mandolin, banjo, accordion and the afore mentioned Terri Hendrix helping on two cuts.