Funny thing happened in Ottawa, Ontario. The Ottawa Jazz festival was playing across the canal from our hotel and most of the Shivers went to check it out. And Lo and Behold! Ms. Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings were playing. I missed the show – I was blogging – and by the time Dave texted me it was way past the mid-point of her set and I was in PJ’s, glad to be out of the heat & humidity and not performing. This was my loss completely, but the experience was not lost on the Shivers. Most of the guys had never heard of her. Of course I had heard of Sharon Jones, I’ve been following her ascent and I have been greatly encouraged by it!
She is 54 years old and just started hitting her fame in the past few years. Her sound is pure old school soul & funk and she’s “killin’ it” all over the world. She’s got a band similar to mine – rhythm section & horns but minus the strong vocals & presence of an Isiah or Mike Jackson. My band was excited and inspired. They want to write and get this thing back around to a full band centered around a strong female stage presence and vocalist – Oh! That’s me – Lynne Jordan but not exclusively as a jobbing band. Of course I am fortunate because I am surrounded by uber vocal & stage performers like Isiah and Michael and so who knows what wonderful craziness could come from this?
Not that I am not doing my thing but the work – the job – has diluted and deferred the dream. (Hellooo – my one woman show?) I have become very focused on work & income for the band and not so much on dreams and creativity. I am not sad about this. I do not regret it. In fact, it is the steady work that has kept us together and made us the killer band that we are, it is the dream that keeps us sane and will rejuvenate the spirit of the band. Admittedly, it ( the dream) had been shelved for a moment. In fact, I don’t even remember setting the dream forward. But it is time to commit to some things:
Writing, creating, owning the gift, shaping the future and getting in shape. Plus Mama don’t like this “being broke shit.”
Thank you Sharon Jones.
Very nice picture Lynne! A great smile.
Very nice picture Lynne! A great smile.