Ruthie Foster
by Monica Lettner - Alaska Pacific University
Grammy Award nominated artist Ruthie Foster completely filled the Discovery Theatre at the ACPA with her magical energy, spectacular voice, and a heart big enough to keep her audience members talking about the show for days. In contrast to the dark theatre curtains, the instruments sat solo and shiny on stage as the seats filled up, reflecting the energy and anticipation for quality blues entertainment that was about to fill the ears and hearts of an audience ready for a Sunday afternoon concert that would transport them to another time and place in their minds.
Whistling Swan Productions gave Anchorage blues fans yet another successful show by bringing Foster up with her entire band after introducing her to the state a few years ago as an acoustic act. She came back with a new album aptly titled, The Truth According to Ruthie Foster, which represents a body of work that speaks to the search for independence and joy that all humans on this planet feel. Foster shines as both a creative genius and a scholar of the old-school blues feel and gives us a glimpse of how much she enjoys her life and her work when she sings Runaway Soul from the album of the same name. Her voice soars with confidence on the high notes and yet gives a contrasting bluesy, growly feel on tunes like Death Came a Knockin, which she dedicated as a celebration to those who have passed on before us.
Even in a crowded theatre, Foster is able to make you feel like you are sitting on her back porch with her listening to stories of childhood and her earliest memories of music growing up in her mama’s church. After a few songs, even the people sitting around you feel like old friends because of Foster’s natural stage presence and ability to have fun while she sings and plays.
Foster performed an encore of You Keep Me Hangin’ On from her new album to an audience that couldn’t stop dancing, clapping, and singing along. As one of her other songs is titled, she is truly a phenomenal woman.
Ruthie Foster
Whistling Swan Productions
Sunday, November 7, 2010 at 4pm
Discovery Theatre
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