In The Truth According to Ruthie Foster, the Texas-bred singer draws from a wide palate of American song forms, from folk, gospel and jazz in an album stylistically much broader than its predecessor, 2007’s The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster. Here, Foster updates her sound with touches of contemporary R&B and bluesy soul, sounding at times like Lizz Wright or Janiva Magness.

Foster is a gifted singer who enjoys showcasing a variety of styles, from the opening, bubbly soul of “Stone Love” with a busy horn section and a prominent electric piano, to the plaintive, gospel-influenced “When It Don’t Come Easy.” Accompanying musicians Robben Ford, Larry Fulcher, and Memphis veterans Jim Dickinson, Wayne Jackson, and Charles Hodges give form and shape to the album, skillfully maneuvering genre variations with ease, including Southern blues, reggae, R&B, gospel, country and jazz.

Foster wrote five of the tunes on the album, belying any suspicion of her ability beyond singing. Her own “Joy on the Other Side” plays like an old-time gospel hymn with twangy guitar and an uptempo beat, while “Dues Paid in Full” lends a funky Memphis soul style punctuated with sharp horn blasts and a prominent organ. Foster’s songwriting is well-crafted and influenced heavily by early soul, funk and R&B.

Foster has a naturally expressive voice that often draws comparisons to Aretha Franklin and Tracy Chapman. The track that best encapsulates the torrent of emotions on The Truth According to Ruthie Foster is perhaps, “Truth!,” a slash and burn, electric blues romp that reinforces Foster’s the basic message of the album, as: “Truth is right where you are!”