JACKIE PAYNE STEVE EDMONSON BAND "MASTER OF THE GAME" Source:Bluesletter Washington Blues Society Date: 02/2007 Writer: Malcolm Kennedy

Jackie Payne, the featured front man for the Johnny Otis review for many of the past 15yrs, has partnered with Bay Area guitar-slinger Steve Edmonson and they’ve formed a tight outfit to back Jackie’s masterful Southern soul and R&B-infused sound. This CD is packed with the great music which hails from Muscle Shoals and Memphis; but Master of the Game also includes some great blues like you will find on “Black Cat Roun’ My Do’” and “ Wake Me Up In San Francisco.”  Steve plays tasty guitar and there are well-formed horn and B-3 accents rounding out this full sound. The thirteen tracks consist of ten band originals and three covers, including one of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s staples, “I’ll Take Care of You.”  Putting out a soul record is a first for Delta Groove; but they picked a real winner with this band.  Blues Music Award nominators agree as Master of the Game is one of seven nominees in the Soul Blues Album of the Year category for the 2007 BMAs in Memphis in May and Jackie Payne is one of five nominees in the Soul Blues-Male Artist of the Year. If you enjoy R&B done the way it should be, executed by a superbly sharp band with solid production, then Master of the Game is definitely for you.