Ruthie Foster - Stages *

Artist:

Foster, Ruthie

UPC:

677967040327

Description:

Personnel: Ruthie Foster (vocals, guitar); Ruthie Foster; Casey Cassone, Cyd Cassone (vocals, percussion); Renn Carson (electric guitar); Steve Zirkel (trumpet, bass guitar); Stephen Zirkel (trumpet); Tanya Richardson (bass guitar); Samantha Banks (vocals, drums, percussion); Will Taylor (violin, viola, piano); Charles Prewitt (cello); Brad Evilsizer (drums).
Audio Mixers: Tim Leatherwood; Will Taylor.
Recording information: Anderson Fair Retail Restaurant, Houston, TX (02/22/2003/02/13/2004); Club Passim, Cambridge, MA (02/22/2003/02/13/2004); St. David`s Episcopal Church, Austin, TX (02/22/2003/02/13/2004).
Photographers: Neale Eckstein; John Carrico.
On this CD recorded at various shows, Ruthie Foster is a folkie at heart, but she meshes various styles and nuances into each song, beginning with the short but pleasing tango-like intro to the powerful and soulful "Ocean of Tears." The song glides along gracefully as Foster`s earthy delivery fuels the slightly Latin textures, with assistance from partner Cyd Cassone on percussion. Foster`s uplifting and spiritual approach often keeps original acoustic folk tunes like "Crossover" flowing effortlessly. "This is something I wrote in a Sam Cooke style," she says before starting "Another Rain Song" with more of a bluesy folk approach with minimal instrumentation. The first of several highlights comes during a give-and-take effort on the reggae-tinged and melodic "Real Love." The singer takes things down somewhat with a jazzy cover of Billie Holiday`s "God Bless the Child," with mixed results at best. The stellar "Death Came a Knockin` (Travelin` Shoes)" is also simple but quite pleasing. Perhaps the sleeper picks come in the second half, as "Prayin` for Rain" and "Get Out of My Way" have a dreamy folk-pop aura in the vein of a sparse Melissa Etheridge. There are a few anecdotes included as Foster mentions how people often think she`s Tracy Chapman when they first hear her. The interaction between Foster and the crowd also shines on the rambling "Church," which isn`t so much a song as a description of Foster growing up in a Baptist church atmosphere. And by the time you listen to her version of Stephen Foster`s "Oh! Susannah," you realize that Foster will be doing this brand of folk quite well for quite a long time. ~ Jason MacNeil

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Ocean of Tears
2. Crossover
3. Another Rain Song
4. Real Love
5. God Bless the Child
6. Turn Me On
7. Death Came a Knockin` (Travelin` Shoes)
8. Get out of My Way
9. Lost in the City
10. Prayin` for Rain
11. Church
12. Walk On
13. Oh, Susannah
14. Full Circle

Album Information

Release Date:

06/08/2004

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Label:

Blue Corn Music

Catalog Number:

BCM 0403

Original Release Year:

2004

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Live

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

75 : 16

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