About us...
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Jimmy and the Sleepers are a gritty, genuine house rockin’ blues band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. For years Edmonton has had a modest, but reverent blues scene which has fostered a blues sound a little more traditional. Jimmy and the Sleepers are disciples of the early electric blues pioneers combined with a modern, original twist creating a sound all their own. Upon the release of their third CD All That Money, they are more ready than ever to burn out of the frozen Canadian north and showcase their rockin' blues to the world. Led by Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Guiboche, the band are solid representatives of soulful, Canadian blues.
The Band:
Jimmy Guiboche
Edmonton blues veteran Jimmy Guiboche has spent over three decades earning a reputation as one of Alberta, Canada's premier blues figures as a sideman, band leader and promoter/producer. He is a mainstay at festivals across Western Canada where he has made his mark with his unique interpretation of classic blues stylings. He was recognized for his contributions to the Edmonton blues scene in 2020 when he was inducted into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame in the performer category.
He discovered the blues after leaving his chilly, Northern Manitoba home and moved to the city where he snuck into his first blues bar and was instantly hooked. He picked up the guitar at 18 and started to play in local blues bands covering classic Chicago blues by Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf and Earl Hooker and also Texas blues men T-Bone Walker, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown and Freddy King. From there he started to earn spots as a sideman at the local blues hotspots where he played 6 nights at a time with blues artists from the area and all over North America. He also spent several years as the first-call blues guitar player at the Yardbird Suite Jazz Club where top-notch blues artists were flown in to perform with local backing bands. These experiences helped develop the ability to accompany many different approaches and styles of blues and also cemented a deep sense of the roots of the idiom. 

As a sideman and bandleader he has an impressive list of playing credits. He has shared the stage with many blues luminaries including James Harman, Cedric Burnside, Lazy Lester, Carol Fran, Jody Williams (Howlin’ Wolf) and Grammy award winner Donald Ray Johnson. His no-nonsense approach to the blues has yielded him respect as one who has studied the blues, internalized it and can play it back in a style that is both true to the old blues, yet new and refreshing.

“Jimmy Guiboche is way too cool, great guy and player!”
-James Harman
Jared Sowan
Jared Sowan is a Canadian award winning, multi-talented instrumentalist with powerful voice coupled with a clever sense of humour who has been delighting audiences for nearly three decades. His deep, soulful voice echoes the old blues and gospel tones of yesterday with an edgy, raw sound that will burn itself into your memory forever.
Jared is a tour de force; along with being a vocal powerhouse, he is also an accomplished pianist, bass player, drummer and guitar player, whose combined experience and versatility creates an exceptional listening experience. His playing credits include a wide variety of accomplished musicians, bands and entertainers from all of the world including a spot at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. His experience and dedication brings you the best in world class entertainment.
Chris Brzezicki
Edmonton-born bass player Chris Brzezicki has built a solid reputation being as reliable and steady as they come. He has a very impressive list of accomplishments having played with many international blues artists such as Pinetop Perkins, Rick Holmstrom, Eddie Shaw, EG Kight, Texas Johnny Brown, Billy Flynn, and Teeny Tucker to name only a few. He has toured Europe and Canada with 2007 IBC Champion Sean Carney and is the bassist on Carney's "Live Blues On Whyte" album. He also spent years on the road with Little Mike and the Tornadoes where they toured the US and Canada extensively.
He is an upright bass specialist and approaches blues in his own way with instincts deeply rooted in the stylings of Willie Dixon, Ransom Knowling and Ernest "Big" Crawford.
Ethan "Shorty" Askey
Shorty Askey is a fine Canadian harmonica player in the roots, blues and soul music landscape. Having served a long apprenticeship as a studio session player and sideman to all sorts of projects, he has played literally from coast to coast to coast in Canada and has earned his place as a mainstay in the Alberta blues community from his years of hard work.
Shorty has played stages in Chicago and Memphis, but he’s just as familiar with the MacKenzie River delta in the Canadian arctic as he is with the Mississippi delta. He was practically born with a paddle in one hand and a harmonica in the other. And no matter whether he’s camped along a northern river or in the depths of the Grand Canyon, he’s rarely without his harmonica in his hand.
Big Bill Hobson
Bill Hobson has been a staple in the Edmonton blues and roots music scene dating back to the 1970’s when he was a member of the legendary Edmonton roots/blues band Tacoy Ride. He is well known for his laid-back attitude and strong musical intuition combined with his deep rhythmic prowess. Over the years he has shared the stage with such luminaries as Jack De Keyser, Maurice John Vaughn and Roy Hytower. A beacon on the Alberta music scene, he continues to shine having earned his reputation as solid time keeper with both local and international artists.