PLAIN FOLK

PLAIN FOLK

by Les Pearson
Having It Both Ways: Ruthie Foster's Gospel and Blues Feature Spirituality

Every folk festival has its surprises. At Canmore, it was Ruthie Foster. Her melodious blues and gospel numbers were show-stoppers! Until this summer's festivals, few in Alberta had heard of her. Who knew?

Ruthie Foster is actually Ruthie and her percussionist-manager, Cyd Cassone. This is not their first incursion into Canada. In 2000 they were performers at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Now, they are wired into the Canadian folk grid. Their special electricity will light the Alberta circuit on October 22 when they perform at SAIT. It surges again on March 11 for the Edmonton Jazz Society.

Ruthie is a decent guitar picker and song writer with three CD's to her credit: "Full Circle" (1997), "Crossover" (1999) and her most recent, "Runaway Soul" (2002). Cyd's congita does double duty as a snare drum. And her harmonious vocal accompaniment brews a tonal blend richer than cane sugar in rain forest coffee. Still, it is Ruthie's powerful, soulful vocals that make the sizzle.

Church choirs first fired each woman's passion for gospel music. Ruthie began singing in church when she was 10 or 11. "And that's late in my family," she chuckled. Although Cyd's Seattle congregation was a different "demographic," she was singing in gospel camp choirs from age 7. These facts triggered a snoopy personal question.

I have this notion that great performances stem from authentic, heartfelt, emotion. So, I asked about religious feeling.

Ruthie talked about her Southern Baptist heritage then explained that, for her, gospel music is "...spiritual, but not religious."

This was more of an answer than I anticipated. And less. Paradox has that way of leaving you full and empty.

Ruthie Foster's music is a plateful of paradox. She sings gospel songs that sound like blues. Runaway Soul (2002) suggests that "...my soul's found a happy home." But there is no peace or joy because this soul has "...left me here to suffer on my own." Soulless desolation. What could be worse?

And then there are the blues songs that sound like gospel. Hole in My Pocket (2002) has an upbeat chorus that pleads, "Show me ways to save my soul."

Signposts of traditional Christianity mark Ruthie's songs. The "Runaway Soul" CD insert lists songs under the heading, "Hymns." Yet her traditional gospel songs have been neutralized like an Alabama courthouse. Woke Up This Mornin' substitutes "I woke up this mornin' with my mind/Stayed on freedom," for the traditional, "Stayed on Jesus."

I've heard of separation of church and state, but church and stage?

Cyd explains, "It's about people waking up to the spirit within themselves....Spirituality is for everybody, no matter where you come from in life."

Ruthie believes that both gospel and blues are about meeting needs. She hopes her music "...makes you a better person, makes you feel good." Her songs resonate with Christian tradition, they also stir our human spirit. Ruthie has it good, both ways!