Ruthie Foster Let it Burn

Ruthie Foster is one of the signature voices today. I really enjoyed her performance at the Pennsylvania Blues Festival and her latest album Let it Burn (Blue Corn Music) is a gem. 

Recorded in New Orleans with George Porter, Jr., and Russell Batiste amongst others it has some terrific material as well as performances. There are several wonderful collaborations with the Blind Boys of Alabama including Lord Remember Me that are chilling. They back her on her rendition of Steven Stills' A Long Time Coming that make these four decades old lyrics come across as contemporary. The riff from Miles Davis' All Blues (laid down by organist Ike Stubblefield) is incorporated into the arrangement of  William Bell You Don't Miss Your Water that is a soulful duet by Foster and Bell. James Rivers is outstanding on tenor sax here. I enjoyed her interpretation of the Johnny Cash hit Ring of Fire, as a ballad (I also recommend folks check out the classic rendition by deep soul legend, James Carr). One last track to mention is the classic from The Band, It Makes No Difference, that Ruthie places her stamp on. 

Simply a marvelous recording.

Ruthie Foster at the 2013 Pennsylvania Blues Festival

This was a purchase.