WORCESTER — D.A. “Lefty” Foster and the Shaboo All-Stars are going to bring their uncompromising blend of “maximum rhythm & blues” to “Jazz at Sunset” Aug. 27.
In addition to great music, the evening also marks a series of returns — the return of Foster fronting the Shaboo All-Stars (after “officially” retiring in December 2019) and the return of the maximum power trio of keyboardist extraordinaire Mitch Chakour, sizzling saxophonist Deric Dyer and guitar virtuoso Cliff Goodwin, who haven’t played together since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Although he gave his final farewell performance with the Shaboo All-Stars on Dec. 20, 2019, in Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, Foster is back.
Foster retired not because he lost his voice or his love for performing — he still has both — but due to “significant, ongoing medical reasons,” which, at the time, indicated that he would not be able to perform live ever again.
“Lefty returned and somewhere along the line he found the right doctor and changed his medication and he got better,” Goodwin said. “It’s unbelievable. It’s an unbelievable story.”
“Jazz at Sunset,” which would be aptly titled “Maximum R&B at Sunset” for this outing, also marks the 20th anniversary of the Shaboo All-Stars becoming Mohegan Sun Casino’s house band (and being renamed the Mohegan Sun All-Stars).
Not only is he well enough to sing and perform, Foster wanted to make his return to the stage since his premature retirement to be for all the good people of Worcester. And, yes, he still got the voice, the energy, charisma and stage presence.
Foster, who began his singing career at 14 and has worked with such legendary artists as B.B. King, the Temptations, Chuck Berry and Keith Richards, assembled the Shaboo All-Stars in 1979.
If Foster wasn’t enough to draw you out your post-COVID comfort zone, then you have the power trio of Chakour, Dyer and Goodwin.
These…