Album Notes

Shirley Jackson & Her Good Rockin’ Daddys fuel the dance floor with a mix of horn-powered west coast blues and swinging sounds. The Good Rockin’ Daddys hail to a sound inspired by the early years of Rock & Roll when horn sections were an integral part of the sound of swinging and rocking tunes. Bringing a little of that west coast sound to the east coast of Nova Scotia. The Good Rockin’ Daddys are currently promoting their new album release entitled ‘Comfort Food’. The new album features 7 original tunes written and arranged by Shirley Jackson, Maple Blues Award recipient for Horn Player of the Year 2003.

“I really, really like this record. It’s very stylized and swinging and has some really interesting arrangements throughout as well as some killer playing. The horns are truly blissful and it’s neo-big band and very slick indeed. Great stuff!!! “
-Eric Thom; Exclaim Magazine

The Good Rockin’ Daddys have been promoting the new CD at home in Nova Scotia as well as in Alberta where they toured for three weeks hi-lighting one week at The Blues on Whyte in Edmonton. The east coast CD release party for the new album ‘Comfort Food’ will be held at Bearly’s House of Blues & Ribs, on Friday October 12th, 2007. The album features some of the long-time Good Rockin’ Daddys such as: Brad Conrad, Carter Chaplin and Dawn Hatfield, but also with some new members to the family of Good Rockin’ Daddys: Dave Harrison on trumpet, Rob MacIntosh on tenor saxophone and Marks Lockhart on drums.

Returning from the Alberta tour Shirley Jackson & Her Good Rockin’ Daddys backed vocalist Tracy Nelson from Memphis, Tenn. Tracy Nelson has performed with many of music’s greatest influences, at the Filmore with the likes of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Burdon. As a songwriter, her songs have been recorded by Etta James, Linda Rondstadt and Maria Muldar.

The Good Rockin’ Daddys consists of: Dawn Hatfield on baritone saxophone. Dawn Hatfield is a Juno and ECMA recipient from her time with The Johnny Favorite Swing Orchestra. Rob MacIntosh on tenor saxophone. Dave Harrison on trumpet and flugelhorn. Jef Wirchenko on bass. From time to time as the seasons change back and forth the rhythm section is alternated by Brad Conrad on guitar (formerly of Matt Mays & El Torpedo) and Gary Potts on drums, or with Carter Chaplin on guitar and Marks Lockhart on drums. Different occasions allow for Barry Cooke on piano/organ or Phil Potvin on harmonica. Whatever the line-up, Shirley Jackson (vocals & tenor saxophone) has been leading the Good Rockin’ Daddys into a sound that is reminiscent of the times of the honking and screaming saxophones of swinging dance clubs but stylized by her own songwriting and arranging.

Shirley Jackson has been a featured performer on the blues scene throughout Canada and the United States since 1997. Settling in the Maritimes from Western Canada in 1988, Jackson has been honing her craft on stage with The Good Rockin' Daddys as well as The Dutch Mason Blues Band, Joe Murphy & The Waterstreet Blues Band, Theresa Malenfant, Frank Mackay & The Lincolns and the Glamour Puss Blues Band. Shirley Jackson spent a year in San Francisco, CA promoting the release of her debut CD 'Careful What You Ask For' sharing stages with Johnny Nitro & The Door Slammers, Steve Fruend, Wendy Dewitt, Snooky Flowers, and many other California greats.