JACKIE PAYNE STEVE EDMONSON BAND "MASTER OF THE GAME" Source: Blues in Britain Date: 12/2006 Writer: Mick Rainsford

I first heard Jackie Payne on a cassette entitled “There Is No Pleasure Without Payne” recorded live with Rare Form at J.J.’s Blues Café, Mountain View, California. The cassette was subtitled “The Last Of The Red Hot Soul Singers”, and although he certainly couldn’t have been classified as the last, there was no doubting his credentials as a “red hot soul (and blues) singer” – further recordings with Kenny “Blue” Ray and a fine set for JSP confirming his reputation as a soul/blues singer of the “old school” – an explosive musical talent who was, coincidentally, “Master Of The Game”.

Since joining forces with Steve Edmonson, the pair have been burning a soul trail around the world – Edmonson’s tasty, often beautifully understated guitar the perfect foil for Payne’s incendiary vocals. Edmonson lays down a compelling guitar riff that allows Payne’s aching vocals to plough a furrow deep into your soul on Brook Benton’s “I’ll Take Care Of You” – Fred Kaplan’s piano and John Middleton’s trumpet enhancing the haunting quality of the mood. In complete contrast, Edmonson then explodes with some feral string-bending on the brooding “Sweet Landlady”, where Payne sounds for all the world like a soul reincarnation of Muddy Waters.

The set opens with “Mean Evil Woman”, a soulful sax intro and Edmonson’s funky guitar riff raising the levels of anticipation to fever pitch before Payne, sliding sensuously from a falsetto to a growl, delivers a potent slab of rock’n’soul, preaching and testifying in white-hot gospel style on a number that sets the tone for over fifty minutes of the hottest soul, blues and R&B you are ever likely to hear.

Picking out highlights is impossible as each and every track simmers with a soulful intensity that is almost palpable. Just listen to “Master Of The Game”, a funky blues churner propelled by John Thomas’s percolating B3 – or the aching Sam Cooke inspired “A Fool Named Me” with it’s churchy organ and testifying horns. Or, you could travel down to New Orleans as Payne gets lowdown and funky on “The Real Deal” and ‘Black Cat Roun’ My Do’”. Or perhaps you prefer sweet soul – Payne delivers on “Warm Rain Falling”. If you like your soul permeated with a gutbucket Mississippi feel, then look no further than “Woman In Kansas City” where Payne roars out the blues over an Elmore styled riff and a thunderous backbeat.

In fact whatever style of soul/blues is your particular penchant, Payne and Edmunson deliver. This is the real deal – and obviously comes highly recommended. (www.deltagrooveproductions.com)