THE JACKIE PAYNE STEVE EDMONSON BAND

is proud to announce the release of our newest CD,

"MASTER OF THE GAME"

on the Delta Groove Productions Label.

Click here to listen to sound samples and to purchase the new CD!

JACKIE PAYNE STEVE EDMONSON BAND "MASTER OF THE GAME" Liner Notes by Scott Dirks With the release of the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson Band's “Master of The Game,” Delta Groove Productions takes a sharp turn onto Funk Avenue and ends up deep in the heart of Soulsville. Payne has been knocking ‘em dead for upwards of 40 years. From a teenager in Atlanta to his journeyman years in Houston , Payne worked with such stellar names as T-Bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown, Freddie King and Pee Wee Crayton among many others. But his true love, and his greatest strength, is in the deep soul sounds exemplified by southern soul heavyweights such as Otis Redding, Al Green and Wilson Pickett. Payne's got one of the greatest natural soul voices to come along since the ‘60s. This fact wasn't lost on legendary bandleader/talent scout Johnny Otis, who has featured Jackie as the front man of the The Johnny Otis Revue for much of the last 15 years. In his musical cohort Steve Edmonson, Payne has found the perfect partner to bring out his best. As son of a professional musician, Edmonson has been playing a guitar since he was old enough to wrap his arms around it. Edmonson has been winning fans with his soulful blues and R&B picking around his home base in the Bay Area for over two decades, amassing an impressive discography and list of accomplishments along the way. He's performed with blues icons James Cotton and Luther Tucker, R&B titans Syl Johnson and Sir Mack Rice, mainstream artists such as Van Morrison and Maria Muldaur, and many others. Along the way, Edmonson honed his talents to a brilliant edge. He's adept at providing the rhythmic drive to a funky soul number as he is and a cutting blues solo. Among many other highlights on his impressive resume, Edmonson put his talents to use for four years with the Soul/Blues band The Dynatones, before forming the Jackie Payne Steve Edmonson band. Together Payne and Edmonson have burned a trail up and down the West Coast, back and forth across the country, and jetted circles around the world, playing major festivals and clubs to universal acclaim every step of the way. Their excellent but sparsely distributed first CD, “Partners In The Blues,” was released in 2003. Payne and Edmonson have spent the last three years further polishing their smoking R&B band, developing and honing new material, and earning new fans one show at a time. 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 list of powerful Payne / Edmonson originals augmented by fresh arrangements of great songs by the likes of Johnny Taylor and Bobby Bland. Producer Andy Santana's tasteful helping hand in the studio (returning a favor, as the multi-talented Edmonson was in the producer's chair for Andy's debut CD “Tight White Dress”), plus guest appearances by Fred Kaplan and John Thomas on keyboards, and singers Cynthia Manley and Jessica Williams, have brought to life one of the funkiest, most soulful recordings in recent memory. The end result brings to mind classic southern soul, legendary names like Solomon Burke and Percy Sledge, storied places like Memphis and Muscle Shoals. Enjoy one of today's most exciting Soul and R&B acts: The Jackie Payne – Steve Edmonson Band.

For information, and to purchase our
"Partners In The Blues CD," on Burside Records, see below.

 

“PARTNERS IN THE BLUES”

on Burnside Records.

" Partners In the Blues " was nominated for a California Music Award (formerly The Bammies) for outstanding blues CD of 2004!

TO LISTEN TO SAMPLES FROM THE CD, Click on the song titles below:

1.) I'M A LONELY MAN
(M. Campbell) Lyco Music, BMI

2.) I'M DOIN' MY OWN THING
(M.L. Gales-M.E. Lee) Allclear Pub., Inc. BMI

3.) CLOSE TO YOU
(Willie Dixon) Hoochie Coochie Music, BMI

4.) THAT'S HOW STRONG MY LOVE IS
(Rooscran-Tamisch) Rice Music, BMI

5.) I DON'T BELIEVE
(D. Robey-M. Charles) MCA Music, Ltd., BMI

6.) THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU SPEAK
(A. King) Tupper Pub. Co., BMI

7.) SWEET CANDYMAN
(J. Payne, S. Edmonson, R. Zinn) Freak Mo' Music, BMI

8.) I NEED YOUR LOVE SO BAD
(Mertis John, Jr.) Trio Music Co., BMI

9.) THE DEVIL'S HAND
(J. C. Copeland) Happy Valley Music, BMI

10.) MONDAY MORNING COMIN' DOWN
(J. Payne, S. Edmonson, R. Zinn) Freak Mo' Music, BMI

11.) SIDE TRACKED
(F. King-S. Thompson) Sonio Music, BMI

12.) MY MONEY JUST AIN'T LONG ENOUGH
(A. King) Tupper Pub. Co., BMI

13.) CRYIN' FOR MY BABY
(H. Burrage) Conrad Music, BMI

14.) TELL IT LIKE IT IS
(G. Davis-L. Diamond) ARC Music, BMI

Note: In order to hear the music you need to have the ability to listen to mp3's on your computer. If you are not sure or do not have a program to play mp3's here is some help to set your computer up. Here.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE PARTNERS IN THE BLUES CD!

"Partners In The Blues"

When skilled craftsmen lovingly perform their jobs to the utmost of their abilities, often strong, lasting and worthy projects result. But just every once in a while, a work of true and lasting art is created. "Partners in the Blues" is just that kind of musical work-of-art that will stand as a testament to the brilliance of the musicians involved in its birth, and to the two band-leader partners whose creative vision and massive talent carry their genre to another level.

The extraordinary Jackie Payne has one of the great soul voices of our time, mesmerizing in its depth, harrowing in its power. He's a more-than-vital lead-vocal veteran of bands of legend such as those of Johnny Otis, Aaron "T-Bone" Walker, Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, Albert Collins, Gatemouth Brown, Lowell Fulson, Freddie King, and Pee Wee Crayton. Payne's command of stage and studio more than favorably compares with the greatest acts in the business. This forty-year show-business veteran, still maintaining the reserved intensity of the wind preceding a hurricane, has literally sung his gospel and blues-heavy song around the world, and that international perspective provides deep and rich rewards to his listeners. Those looking for a supreme vocalist performing with consummate emotion and musical vision have found their voice.

Jackie has been lucky to find a gifted partner, and musical counterpart to match his passion and drive. Fiery, blues & soul-drenched guitarist Steve Edmonson has been an integral part of every musical group he's ever played with. His tours and performances with bluesmen such as James Cotton, Luther Tucker, Syl Johnson, & Rusty Zinn, in addition to four years with the show-band The Dynatones, have helped him develop into an extraordinary musical talent. Playing with taste, bite, fury and restraint, Edmonson's response to Payne's call is note-perfect.

The synergy that Steve and Jackie bring along in their unique approach to classic R&B, combines the best of soul's golden era with an iron-willed fidelity to modern blues drive and sophistication.

Sharp dressed, playing in the company of some of the most gifted musicians in the country, (including Rusty Zinn, June Core, Austin DeLone, Jimmy Pugh, Carl Green, John Middleton, Bernard Anderson, Tim Wagar, Robi Bean, Terry Hanck, Walter Shufflesworth,) this staggering Bay Area band has enjoyed accolades as one of the finest unsigned bands in the nation. That's all over now, as Burnside Records has had the good sense to release one of the strongest and most enjoyable independent blues and R&B recordings of the new millennium.

One of the most vital releases in recent years, in an often mediocre, over-saturated genre, "Partners in the Blues" shows two band-leaders at the peak of their considerable form, completing their intense musical journey together, resulting in a work of brilliance and living fire. The songs they've chosen to record display the wonderful gamut of their awesome creativity and stinging genius.

During live performances, Jackie sometimes jokes from stage in telling his adoring audience, "You might as well clap your hands, ‘cause you ain't gonna get your money back." With the release of "Partners in the Blues", I sure as hell don't think anyone lucky enough to purchase this CD will be looking for a rebate anytime soon.

Joseph Jordan
National Editor - Southland Blues
Contributing Writer - Blues Revue
West Coast Blues Hall of Fame - Blueswriter of the Year for 2003

"Payne, Edmonson, and their compatriots have delivered an eclectic set of blues, soul, and vintage R&B with a rare fusion of elegance, musical dexterity, and hot-blooded passion that's become all too rare."

David Whiteis - Living Blues, November 2003

The Jackie Payne-Steve Edmonson Band: Partners in the Blues (Burnside 49; 58:12) *** Once the lead singer with the globe-trotting Johnny Otis Orchestra, Payne is the reason to search out this soul blues album from the San Francisco Bay Area band he co-leads with capable guitarist Edmonson. His up-front sincerity make for utterly compelling treatments of Al King’s “Think Twice Before You Speak,” Johnny Taylor’s “I’m Doin’ My Own Thing” and Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is.”

Frank-John Hadley – Downbeat, October 2003

 

MORE RECENT BAND NEWS...

We recently returned from performing at The 15th Annual Kenlake Hot August Blues Festival in Hardin , Kentucky , Saturday August 29th. Mark, Kathy, Tammy and all of the staff took great care of us, and the audience was enthusiastic to say the least. We had been told that this event was in a "dry" county, and therefore there wouldn't be any alcohol available at the event. They forgot to mention the proud Kentucky tradition of making moonshine. We got to the gig late in the afternoon on the day of our performance due to some mechanical trouble that we had been having with our bus (we were scheduled to arrive the day before the gig.) By the time that we went on around 9:00 PM, the crowd was well lubricated (Shine On!) and ready to have a good time. We want to thank everyone at the gig, including the audience for being so friendly and hospitable. Mark even offered to let us stay at the resort and rest up an extra day, but we were due to perform back in SF in a few short days, so we had to move on. We hope to visit Kenlake again soon!

We've had some great times in our travels in July. We had a great time and made many new friends on our recent trip to Åmål, Sweden for the The Åmål Blues Festival. The promoter, Nils Lönnsjö, was a more than gracious host, and an all around great guy to be around. We made fast friends with many of the musicians that we met there, some Swedish, like Knockout Greg and Blue Weather (the band that backed us for our performance,) and the guys from Blue Hammer, and some not so Swedish, like Brits, Big Joe Louis, and Little George Suref, or Americans, like Big Jack Johnson, John Weston & Carla Robinson, Keith Dunn and Sharrie Williams. We had a great time and heard some great music too!

Immediately after returning from Sweden we left on a two week trip that had us playing The Poconos Blues Festival in Pennsylvania one weekend, and playing The Kalama Blues Festival in Kalama , Washington the next. We had the pleasure of doing a gig with Mark Naftalin while we in Connecticut at The Boxcar in Southport . Kevin Kiekel and all the staff there took good care of us, and we rocked the joint. Mark and his wife Ellen treated us to a home cooked meal at their home in Southport . The Poconos Blues Festival was a great treat for us. Festival Promoter, Michael Cloeren and his staff couldn't have been more supportive and helpful, and the audience response was tremendous. It was a treat to get to hear as well as to meet and hang out with some of the other musicians performing there, like Mavis Staples, Nora Brusco, Roy Gaines, Magic Slim, The Campbell Bros., and on and on. Not to mention all of the DJ's and Zellers too numerous to mention.

After The Poconos, we drove west all the way to Salem , Oregon , but not without a stop at our favorite clothing store, Jack's Men's Clothing in Toledo , Ohio . We planned a one-day layover there to get some new threads, ands some new kicks. Not to mention some of the baddest brims you ever saw.

Anyway, next we played Lefty's in Salem , and once again, the club owners were very cool folks. John and Karen and the entire staff at Lefty's were so nice, we could really get used to this kind of treatment.

The next day we played The Kalama Blues Festival in Kalama , Washington . Two outstanding guitarists, and good friends, Big Jack Johnson and Frank Goldwasser (aka Paris Slim) were on just before us, and it was a treat to see them again. Zeller and Cascade Blues Association President, Greg Johnson, took some great photos of us hanging out with Big Jack. Another Zeller and CBA vice-president, Terry Odor, also got some good shots of us, both on stage and off. It was good to see both of them, and we had a great time at Kalama.

 

The following day we drove up to Port Townsend, WA, on the Olympic Peninsula (what a beautiful drive!) to perform at a benefit for The Jefferson County Mental Health Services organized by Laurie Strong. They did a fantastic job organizing this event, and plans are in the works to make this an annual event. Steve, and his wife Judy (who had flown up for the weekend,) actually ran into five different people that they had gone to high school with more than 30 years ago (in California!) at the Port Townsend gig. All in all, we would have to consider it a very successful month as far as spreading our brand of Blues and Soul around the globe!

We had a great time at the recent Pinedale Blues Festival in Pinedale , WY , and want to thank Dan Abernathy, Carl Gustafson, and everyone else involved for inviting us, and for treating us so well. It was great to see old friends Jr. Watson, James Harman, Rick Welter, and to make new friends like John Nemeth and his band (you'll be hearing more from them!) Jackie and long-time friend, Sherman Robertson, who hadn't seen each other since 1984, were inseparable, and it was great to hear them reminisce about the Houston scene in the sixties. It was a bit sad though, to hear them as they realized that most of the main players on that scene are now gone. At least the two of them, Calvin Owens, and a few others are still here. BTW, Sherman Robertson tore down the house, if you get the chance to see him live run, don't walk!

We had a great time on our recent Arizona trip and hope to return soon! Special thanks to DJ, Marty Kool, for having us on his show on Tucson's KXCI 91.3, and to TJ Buck for the great article in The Tucson Citizen.

"Partners In the Blues" was nominated for a California Music Award for the outstanding blues CD of 2004!

Following in the footsteps of our tenor player, Carl Green and trumpeter, John Middleton, who were inducted last year, we are proud to announce that Jackie Payne was presented with The West Coast Blues Hall of Fame Award for Male R&B Vocalist of the Year for 2003 at the awards ceremony in Oakland, Saturday, February 28, 2004.