On January 26th, 2019, the Ruthie Foster Big Band took the stage at the historic Paramount Theater in Austin, TX to perform a set of live big band era tracks that would make up her new album.

Featuring arrangements by Miles Davis alum John Beasley and bandleader John Miller, Ruthie Foster’s latest album Live at the Paramount evokes Sinatra, Ellington, Ella and other swing-era greats on collection of favorite originals and dynamic covers.

1. Introduction'
2. 'Brand New Day'
3. 'Might Not Be Right'
4. 'Ring Of Fire'
5. 'Stone Love'
6. 'The Ghetto'
7. 'Death Came A Knockin' (Travelin' Shoes)'
8. 'Singin' The Blues'
9. 'Runaway Soul'
10 .'Woke Up This Morning'
11. 'Joy Comes Back'
12. 'Phenomenal Woman'
13. 'Fly Me To The Moon'
14. 'Mack The Knife'

The album opens with Ruthie's daughter Mai, who then herself, and to rapturous applause, introduces her own mother to the packed house.

That leads us neatly into the one-two punch of 'Brand New Day,' which is followed by both the mid-tempo love song 'Might Not Be Right' (written with the great William Bell) and then a beautiful, laid back cover of Johnny Cash's infamous 'Ring Of Fire.'

Next up is Foster playing testimony via the uproarious 'Stone Love,' with that being backed by the lo-fi ballad 'The Ghetto,' the hip shakin' magnificence of 'Death Came A Knockin' (Travelin' Shoes),' and then the foot tappin' vibes of the mid-tempo 'Singin' The Blues.'

Backed by a guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, drummer, ten horn players, vocalists, and conductor, the upbeat 'Runaway Soul' is a joy to behold and is backed by the soulful R&B of 'Woke Up This Morning' and then the joyous New Orleans hipsway of 'Joy Comes Back.'

This delightfully vibrant live album then rounds out with the sung poem by Maya Angelou, 'Phenomenal Woman,' a cover of Frank Sinatra's 'Fly Me To The Moon,' with another cover in the form of the Bobby Darin-made famous hit from 1959 (although her dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald), the finger-snappin' excellence of 'Mack The Knife.'

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