Ruthie Foster
Stages
Blue Corn Music - 0403
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This boundless and breath taking live disc gives the listener more than 75 minutes of Ruthie Foster playing with 3 different sets of musicians, in 3 different venues, scattered from Texas to Massachusetts. It gives a comprehensive look at the expansive scope of her music. She pays great tribute to her foundation in blues, R & B, gospel and folk, and while paying homage to the traditions, she expands the dynamics of each. Her voice contains an emotional punch of sincerity that is electrifying with its power. It has the ability to both cocoon the listener in a place of comfort and safety while at the same time exposing them to all the unabated furies that the unchained elements of nature can unleash. It is a voice that can at one moment express that hidden deep tormenting pain that ravages and pillages the soul, and in the next moment raise the roof of the gospel church to the exhilarating heights that suck the breath right out of you with sheer excitement.
This disc has 14 songs and Ruthie has written 7 of them. The other seven songs are from a variety of composers ranging from Billie Holiday, to John D. Loudermilk, to Brownie McGhee on to Stephen Foster. She has the guts to tackle “God Save the Child” and she more than holds her own, grabs the emotion and turns it into tour de force to showcase her vocal gymnastics without turning it into a sob. The stunning Loudermilk composition “Turn Me On,” which vocally extends the emotional assault into an entirely new direction
that is heightened by a beautiful guitar solo by Renn Carson follows this. The count of 14 songs includes the 7 plus minute description of church that gives a strong nod and thanks to Lyle Lovett, and showcases her audience interaction, her storytelling ability, and her sense of humor.
Cyd Cassone is with her on vocals and percussion at all venues providing a strong presence that supports her. On four cuts Will Taylor and Strings Attached back her, and these were recorded at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Austin Texas. The 5 cuts recorded at Anderson Fail Retail Restaurant, Houston, Texas she has Samantha Banks on drums, percussion, vocals; Tanya Richardson, bass; and Renn Carson, on electric guitar. The remaining 4 tracks are recorded at Club Passim, Cambridge, Massachusetts with just Ruthie and Cyd. This disc stretches her boundaries and shows the full spectrum of her range and ability as a singer and bandleader.