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JACKIE
PAYNE STEVE EDMONSON BAND "MASTER OF
THE GAME"
Source: Bad Dog Blues
Date: 10/2006
Writer: Jeff Harris |
Delta
Groove is known for putting out some first class
straight ahead blues records but for their latest
release take "a sharp turn onto Funk Avenue
and end up deep in the heart of Soulsville"
as the liners descriptively relate. Indeed "Master
of the Game" is funky, soulful outing shining
the light on great unsung soul singer Jackie Payne
and his guitar playing partner Steve Edmonson.
Veteran
singer Jackie Payne cut his first single ("Go
Go Train b/w I'll Be Home, Jetstream")
way back in 1965. Payne has worked with T-Bone
Walker, Freddie King and Pee Wee Crayton, and
was featured frontman with the Johnny Otis Revue
for fifteen years. In the last decade Payne
has cut his debut album "Day in the Life
of a Bluesman" for JSP, cut a pair with
Kenny "Blue" Ray including the terrific
"Soulful Blues" and most recently
waxed 2003's "Partners In The Blues"
with Steve Edmonson. Edmonson spent four years
touring with the Blues/Soul show band, the Dynatones
and has worked with folks like James Cotton,
Sir Mack Rice, Syl Johnson and Van Morrison
among others. Backed by a sympathetic band the
duo deliver the goods on a classic soul session
with a strong blues streak.
Payne is every bit the classic soul singer,
able to sing silky soul ballad or move to a
gravelly growl with ease. Payne comes across
somewhere between Otis Redding and Al Green
but definitely has his own style. Partner Edmonson
plays with utter taste, playing around Payne's
vocals beautifully, reminiscent of the way Steve
Cropper and Otis used to play together, although
Edmonson has blusier style and can really pour
it on when it's called for. The two are supported
by a fine band that includes bassist Bill Singletary,
drummer Nick Otis (son of Johnny Otis), and
the Sweet Meet Horns (Carl Green on sax and
John Middleton on trumpet). Fred Kaplan and
John Thomas guest on piano. Things cook right
out of the gate with the rocking "Mean
Evil Woman." The torrid pace continues
on the funky "Master of the Game",
the bouncy "The Real Deal" sporting
some wailing tenor and the roaring "Woman
In Kansas City", opening with an Elmore
styled intro and features blistering guitar
work throughout. Payne dips into pure southern
soul territory on the gentle "A Fool Like
Me", the sultry "Wake Me Up In San
Francisco" and the pulsing Steve Cropper
penned "Just The One." On "Nickel
and a Nail" Payne turns in a fiery performance
really doing justice to a throbbing version
of the O.V. Wright classic.
For
it's first foray into Soulsville, Delta Groove
couldn't have asked for a better kick off than
"Master of the Game" which captures
a dynamic soul singer at the top of his game.
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