Ruthie Foster – Promise Of A Brand New Day
12 tracks total – running time/42:17
Ruthie Foster is a strong woman! Her lyrics will grab your heart with genuine stories about real life situations that we can all relate to. Starting over, finding yourself, loving, losing, and healing are all part of the story for this album. We have all been there, done that, or are in the middle of figuring it all out! Fosters knock you off your feet vocals will find your soul and quite possibly make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! Promise of a Brand New Day was released in August, 2014. Seven of the twelve songs are written or co-written by Foster. Prior to this disc, Fosters last two albums were Grammy nominated for Best Blues Album. From Austin Texas, her roots shine through with many undertones of pure gospel, deep blues, and Motown soul.
Other musicians on the CD are as follows: Meshell Ndegeocello, bass; Chris Bruce, guitar; Ivan Edwards, drums; Jebin Bruni, keys; Nayanna Holley, background vocals. Two guest musicians on the CD are guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and vocalist Toshi Reagon. Bruce has played with rock star Cheryl Crow, Bruni has ties to musician Aimee Mann, Bramhall has a steady gig with Eric Clapton, and Reagon is the daughter of Sweet Honey in the Rock founder Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon.
The record is chock full of emotional, real songs. Some highlights include “Singing The Blues”, “It Might Not Be Right”, and “Second Coming”. “Singing The Blues” is vocally silky smooth with bluesy roots. Bobby “Blue” Bland gets mentioned in this tune and rightfully so. “It Might Not Be Right” leans toward love and marriage that may not be viewed right from society’s stand point but it’s alright with “this girl”. “Second Coming” has handclaps and acoustic guitar strewn throughout with that folk-gospel sound that Foster nails!
Foster admits that the heartache, tough times, and tribulations were not always hers alone. She often had close friends nearby that were experiencing similar situations and she could then relate them her own life and put them in a song. Foster was just in St. Louis, Missouri on December 13, 2014. Rumor has it she put on a stellar performance opening for the Blind Boys of Alabama.
And Promise of a Brand New Day follows suit with another Grammy nod this year!
