Classic Soul – CD Review: Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band – “Master Of The Game”
Classic Soul – CD Review: Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band – "Master Of The Game"
CD Review: Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band – "Master Of The Game"
(Southern Soul/Blues)
In the liner notes for "Master of the Game" it says: "For their Delta Groove debut the tight as a drum road tested band entered the studio at the height of their powers. "Master of the Game" showcases a set of powerful Payne/Edmonson originals augmented by fresh arrangements of great songs by the likes of Johnny Taylor and Bobby Bland. "
If we take a serious look at the history of Black music, one of the things that we will find is that it has rarely ever been just one thing. It’s always been about fusing together many different styles Today when people see terms like "Nu/Neo Soul" it brings to mind a "revival of a kinda jazz/funk/vocal groove" that brings to mind artists like Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind and Fire, Donny Hathaway, etc. However this particular style is not the only one that is undergoing a "revival" in Soul music today. Back in the 1970’s the sound of Memphis as represented by Stax and Al Green was one of the dominant forces in music. Listening to the title track of the new album "Master of the Game" by the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band has my mind floating back to those days. The song has got this absolutely wicked organ/horn section combination going on and it’s combined with a story with a headline that reads "When it comes to playing a fool baby, I’m a master of the game". This is the overall musical feel of the entire album and I like it. So with that type of historical backdrop in mind, I think that this is the type of an album that’s going to be opening more than a few doors as well as a few minds. Today the term that is used is "Southern Soul". When I think of the term "Southern Soul" it brings to mind music from artists like Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Betty Wright, Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Al Green and others from the past. Today "Southern Soul" takes it’s inspiration from that period/sound and brings it up to date in a way that will make you smile. In some ways it’s a shame that we let the names of the categories divide us as music fans, when what we should be doing is listening to the music. For example, does anyone here remember and artist named Joe Tex? Well if you do, then when you listen to the song "Sweet Landlady" from the album "Master of the Game’, your mind will immediately go back and start thinking about the music of Joe Tex. See in my mind anybody who is reviving the musical style of someone like Joe Tex deserves all of the props in the world.
There are some people who try to treat Soul music as if it’s a "museum piece". Then there are those who know that it has a future and seek to carve out a path for it that uses the past for guidance. I think that the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band is doing a pretty good job of clarifying the some more of details of that path.
–Bob Davis
NEW RELEASE: Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band – Master of the Game
Jackie Payne and Steve Edmonson have a history together that goes back almost ten years. They first met when they were members of the popular show band, The Dynatones. They soon found that they had a common love for the blues. While touring together they developed a friendship and camaraderie that is clearly evident when you see them perform together. You can hear soul/blues in every note that Jackie & Steve sing and play.
THE BANDS RHYTHM SECTION CONSISTS OF:
Bassist "Col." Bill Singletary, and Drummer, Nick Otis. The list of who these guys have performed with is voluminous, but the following is a partial list of their past performance credits.
Drummer Nick Otis, son of R&B Legend, Johnny Otis, has performed as part of his father’s Johnny Otis Orchestra for more than 20 years. As a member of that prestigious aggregation, Nick has performed with many musical legends including: Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Hank Ballard, Etta James, Lowell Fulson, Pee Wee Crayton, Little Milton, Eddie Cleanhead Vinson, Big Joe Turner, Rufus & Carla Thomas, Ernestine Anderson, Linda Hopkins and Barbara Morrison.
(kinda sounds like "great black music from the ancient to the future" to me!!!)
You can check out the new album "Master of the Game" by the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band on the Delta Groove Productions site at the following link: http://www.deltagrooveproductions.com
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