Shirley Johnson's "Blues Attack"

Shirley Johnson is a Chicago blues singer who came to the devil's music like so many others -- through church. And you can hear all that righteous gospel influence on her latest CD, "Blues Attack" (Delmark).

That's not to say that gospel is the only pew in Johnson's house of blues. She mixes huskily soulful R&B with some occasional funkiness to add a contemporary flair. The band kicks along behind her, with keyboards and horns delivering tasty support and tastier solos.

There a few covers on the CD, but one of the best is an uptempo version of "Unchain My Heart." Otherwise, she sets the tone from the beginning, rolling her big vocals through "You're Reckless," surrounded by Roosevelt Purifoy's sparkling piano.

She follows that with the funky title track, then the R&B-laced "634-5789," then a bunch more flowing in the wronged-woman blues vein (You Just Using Me"). There are shuffles, torchy blues and some tenderness ("Let It Rain"), all filled with Johnson's big voice and infused with the spirit of the blues.

Shirley represents a fine tradition of Chicago blues, and women blues singers, who don't always get the credit they deserve for their huge contribution to the music.

Just wondering

Does anyone have anything to report on weekend shows? Or anything to report? 

Here's a nice interview with guitarist Kelly Ritchie.

And another item, a post on Pittsburgh's Jill West on the Old Mon Music blog.