The 2022 return of Ronnie Foster to Blue Note Records is an event of synergistic quintessence, completeness, and cool. The organ greats dynamic new album, Reboot, arrives upon the 50th anniversary of his 1972 Blue Note debut Two Headed Freap, which is also being reissued this year as part of the labels Classic Vinyl Series. The first in a run of five stellar early-70s albums, Two Headed Freap featured Fosters memorable tune Mystic Brew, which would later reach the ears of hip-hop fans around the world when A Tribe Called Quest sampled the track as the foundation of Electric Relaxation on their 1994 album Midnight Marauders.Foster first caught the ear of Blue Note co-founder Francis Wolff when he made his first-ever recording as a sideman on jazz guitar legend Grant Greens searingly funky Blue Note LP, Alive! in 1970...
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The 2022 return of Ronnie Foster to Blue Note Records is an event of synergistic quintessence, completeness, and cool. The organ greats dynamic new album, Reboot, arrives upon the 50th anniversary of his 1972 Blue Note debut Two Headed Freap, which is also being reissued this year as part of the labels Classic Vinyl Series. The first in a run of five stellar early-70s albums, Two Headed Freap featured Fosters memorable tune Mystic Brew, which would later reach the ears of hip-hop fans around the world when A Tribe Called Quest sampled the track as the foundation of Electric Relaxation on their 1994 album Midnight Marauders.Foster first caught the ear of Blue Note co-founder Francis Wolff when he made his first-ever recording as a sideman on jazz guitar legend Grant Greens searingly funky Blue Note LP, Alive! in 1970. After Wolff passed away a few months later, Ronnie was officially signed to Blue Note by Dr. George Butler making him the next in an illustrious lineage of Hammond B3 organ artisans the label had presented which included the legendary Jimmy Smith, Larry Young, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. To this accord, Ronnies re-signing is a bold torch-passing move that brings him full circle.Blue Note has always stood for The Art of Jazz, Foster marvels. I grew up on Blue Note, listening to all the greats. It was ingrained early. I was exposed to it through my own path and other peoples paths fans and players. I had some albums, my friends had other albums. When something new came out, wed go to someones house and wed all check it outtogether. From Horace Silver and Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers to Donald Byrd and Herbie Hancock, Blue Notes roster was the cream of the crop the center. And, of course, they brought Jimmy [Smith] on the scene. The stuff he was playing on The Sermon and Groovin at Smalls Paradise was crazy! Had me listening on headphones at the Buffalo Public Library.The nine-song Reboot marks a fresh start for Foster, who has whipped up an omnidirectional brew of Hammond Organ Groove that, yes, pays homage to the past but more often reflects Ronnies restlessness for ushering in the new. The album opens with the title track, which he describes as organ musicbut a little different. This is where my head is at now and where Im going. His journey to that destination rides on a winding melody, not one but two bridges, and a rock steady groove kicked down by his son, drummer Chris Foster, one of four cuts he plays on here, rendering Ronnie: One Proud Papa.
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