“Welcome to the heavy metal country show!”
So joked veteran B3 soulmeister Ronnie Foster, riding the wave of his renaissance as a result of his return to Blue Note Records and a successfully soulful album Reboot. Foster, looking fit and trim, and even looking the part of a bicyclist with his cap, brought in his bandmates from that album, drummer and son Chris Foster as well as guitarist Mike O’nNeill for 110 minutes of foot tapping humming Hammond ecstasy.
The swirling Leslies got a workout from the get-go , as Foster hit the ground running from the downbeat on “Blues For J” as he created tsunamis of organic waves over Chris’ shuffling pulse and O’Neill’s tasty treats on strings. A number of tunes from the hit album were showcased, most notably a deftly soft floating waft of Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely” coaxed along by Chris’ relaxed backbeat,and a smooth “Sultry Song” that had the audience learn why O’Neill is George Benson’s accompanist as he created glowing lyrical lines.
Foster then gave a solo aria of “J’s Dream” that was evocative on both the harmonic and visceral levels, as he created tones, dynamics and chords that reached the heart and head.
Foster and company then got the audience not only howling with delight, but vocally participating, as the boogalooing “8 Counts For Rita” had the packed Potato counting off the beats of the breaks, while Foster did everything with the funky chicken except pluck it and use it for bone broth. He then took partner O’Neill down a few notches to almost subliminal lever before pumping things back up and turning into a middleweight punch-fest, repeating riffs for segues to son Chris’s drum workshop. The exchange between drums and the other 2/3rds was a thrilling tug of war, with both sides pulling the ropes to the climactic close.
Foster then went back a few decades and did a two timed groover to the foot stomping “Two Headed Freap” and the relentless “Mystic Brew”, a piece almost old enough to collect Social Security, but giving Foster royalties as its catchy riffs are being sampled by today’s R&B artists.
After closing to the snappy high hat driven “Feet”, Foster thanked the audience for the enthusiastic reception, stating “we’re naked without your energy”. Judging by the resonance from the walls of sound, Foster and company left that evening well dressed.
Upcoming shows at The Baked Potato include Mike Miller 06/17, The Webb Allstars 06/21-22, Mike Garson 06/28 and Banned from Utopia 07/05-06