uthie Foster is speaking in a hoarse whisper. Her voice creaks out in low tones and occasionally hints at the powerhouse singing that she’ s known for when she’ s emphasizing a point. During our phone interview a day after a concert, all that’ s left of her voice is this soft murmur. That’ s because Ruthie Foster pours out all she has during her shows. She leaves every remnant of her voice and soul on the stage.“ I give everything in a performance. I don’ t know any other way,” she explained.

Giving her all is a Ruthie Foster hallmark. This is the blues woman who walked away from a major record contract because she was committed to only singing music that moves her soul. She sings blues, gospel and folk with the compelling power of

By Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Ruthie Foster

someone who has been possessed by ancient spirits.“ I go to a different place when I play traditional blues,” she said.“ I open up, I’ m no longer Ruthie Foster when I sing.”

You can hear the transformation on her new CD, Joy Comes Back, which throbs with palpable emotion and evocative storytelling. A rare cover album( except for one, the silky ballad“ Open Sky”) for the three-time Grammy nominated artist noted for her songwriting, each tune was carefully chosen to reflect parts of her life. Recorded after her breakup with her long-time partner, the album traces her path from wistfulness, showcased with her riveting treatment of Chris Stapleton’ s“ What Are You Listenin ' To” to resignation, demonstrated with searing vocals on“ Good Sailor” and of course,

the faith of the title track, packed with slide guitar rhythms and singing that soars.“ A lot of my songs are my story,” she said.“ Not every song, but most. I have to relate to the songs that I sing. Some are just beautifully written and I want to do my own version.”

From the time she was a kid growing up in a small Texas town, Ruthie has strived to be authentic and true to herself.“ I’ ve been blessed by being surrounded by people who aren’ t yes men.” she said.“ I grew up around a strong family and that means a lot to me. I’ ve had record companies try to change the way I represent myself, whether through photos or people to write with. I thought about it but realized that it wasn’ t who I was. It’ s about having a thick skin and moving forward no matter what people tell you you should do or be.”

As an acclaimed singer-songwriter with armloads of Blues Music Awards, Ruthie has built her career on singing the blues and gospel music that she grew up with, music that reflects community and tradition.“ My mother was the caretaker for the elders of the community. She took care of people who didn’ t have anybody else to look after them. I grew up with that focus on community and strength. I’ d make Ms. Sally’ s breakfast and drop it off before I went to school. I also helped take care of my brothers and sisters. By the time I got to 8th grade, they put me in special-ed [ classes ] because I was so tired from all the work at home and in the community that I couldn’ t keep up with my lessons.”

Although getting placed in a special-ed program where she didn’ t belong, might appear to be a setback, Ruthie considers it a gift.“ It gave me a timeout, a time to rest and be creative, she remembered.“ I was a big reader and I loved reading about black history. It was finding out if you matter as a black girl. I wrote poetry and an eight page

paper on black history. I started being called on to read my poetry to other classes. My creativity gave me a ticket to feeling that I mattered. I was able to write and express myself for the first time. It helped make me the well-rounded person that I am.”

Although she was surrounded by music, Ruthie considered herself a writer.‘ Everybody sang, I was intimidated because I didn’ t want to be pointed out as a singer. It was too much attention and I was bashful and very shy.” But she played piano and guitar in church and at 15, she started singing in front of people.“ Music pulled me out of my shell,” she said. Requests started coming in for her to play at other churches.“ They called me Sister Ruthie and I went around to black and white churches singing and playing guitar.”

Word got out and soon Sister Ruthie was playing at festivals, schools and at political events. She even got her first song copyrighted. She was only a teen but Ruthie knew that her future would involve music.“ I could see myself doing exactly what I’ m doing now,“ she said.“ I was thinking, it’ s too much, it’ s too big, this poor, black, country girl singing with all these country and blues stars. But when I learned to say yes to everything, things started happening.”

The triumph of her sure-footed career dominates Joy Comes Back. From the raw essence of her singing and dobro playing on Mississippi John Hurt’ s“ Richland Woman Blues,” to the brilliance of her turning Black Sabbath ' s anti-war classic“ War Pigs,” into a blues anthem, you hear exactly where her heart is.“ It makes me feel good to play traditional blues, it’ s the meat of the performance. The audience relaxes and exhales more when they hear a little pickin’. It’ s fairly simple music but it’ s the message and the spirit of it that get you.”

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Also Appearing in December....

See our website for complete schedule.

Fri Dec 1“ Tribute to the music of George Harrison” Concert for George

Wed Dec 6 HP Pops Thu Dec 7“ Tribute to James Taylor”

Bossa Blue

Sun Dec 10“ Brunch 1-3pm | Later show 7pm”

Gospel Brunch then Keri Johnsrud

Thu Dec 14 John McHugh & Friends Fri Dec 15 Deja Vu Sun Dec 17 Judy Night Quintet Wed Dec 20 Mama Yaya Thu Dec 21 Cryin ' Side of Town Wed Dec 27 Steffen

Alfonso Ponticelli

& Swing Gitan

SAT DEC 23 THU DEC 28 FRI DEC 29 SAT DEC 30 SUN DEC 31

Tanya Melamed

European Cabaret

Ron Bedal

& the Motown Experience

Tom Holland

Bill Porter

Orchestra

American English

Kings of the Lobby Mr. Blotto

New Year’ s Eve Gala!!

Indika Reggae with Suite Mollie

18 illinoisentertainer. com december 2017