Shirley Jackson with her sassy sax has just garnered Canada’s highest blues award, a Maple Blues Award nomination She cites Etta James, Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith as some of her musical influences. She has played North America from the Canadian East Coast to San Francisco which has broadened her knowledge base of blues. Shirley’s song writing and playing reflects a true feeling for the traditional style of blues, while still making them fresh with personal heartfelt lyrics. The covers she has selected are top notch, and her eight originals are a nice fit, making the selection seamless.

"I Want You to Be My Baby" (John Hendricks) stays true to the original, a Texas style blues tune that shows off Shirley’s vocal range. It is one of those songs that you can’t help but to sing along to. I was pleasantly surprised by her version of "Te Ni Nee Ni Nu," (James Moore) it has a better groove than most versions, with Dawn Hatfield fattening up the sound with her baritone sax. "Fish on a hook," a song that should become a classic, is about being hooked in the figurative sense. It’s a western style swing tune with some great piano and steel guitar. This song reminds me of the Great Patsy Cline. Shirley’s cover of "It’s Raining" (Naiomi Neville) is one of the best that I’ve heard to date, it has a 50’s style ballad feel. The CD ends of with a beautiful soulful ballad, "I Believe," which pushes the envelope of the blues genre. "I Believe" is a song about what ifs, and asking why. The cover track "Careful What You Ask For," a hard shuffling Chicago style blues, about her Mama’s advice on love, took a few listenings to, as her vocals stray from those of most Chicago blues. It becomes less noticeable with each new listen, to the point where you could not imagine it any other way.

Shirley Jackson & Her Good Rockin Daddys have succeeded in putting together an impressive selection of Texas, Swing, Chicago and Swamp blues. If you want more information check out her website HERE


-- Sheila G. (Contributer to "Are You Blues")
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