JACKIE PAYNE STEVE EDMONSON BAND "OVERNIGHT SENSATION" Source: Blues Wax Date: 08/2008 Writer: Richard Ludmerer

Jackie Payne was the lead singer with the Johnny Otis Orchestra from 1987 until 1994 and was featured on their 1993 Grammy Award-winning album Spirit of The Black Territory Bands. Shortly thereafter he and Steve Edmonson met as they were in a show band together called the Dynatones. Payne's first solo album, A Day In The Life of a Blues Man, was released in 1998 on the JSP Records label. This is the third Jackie Payne-Steve Edmonson Band album and the second on Delta Groove. Their previous Delta Groove release, Master of The Game, received a 2007 Blues Music Award nomination.

Overnight Sensation is both the title of this album and of the opening song. The song is the autobiographical story of Payne's career and a tribute to all of his musical influences, including Johnny Otis. This and eight other songs are co-written with Edmonson. Payne and Edmonson's style is close to the music that came from Stax Records, and Payne has been compared to O.V. Wright, Johnny Taylor, and Wilson Pickett. Steve Edmonson is a guitarist I like to compare to Steve Cropper, and they pay tribute to Stax by including three songs from the Stax catalogue.

"Mother In Law Blues" was written by Gene Barge. Barge is a musician, actor, and former staff writer for Stax Records. He was also a founding member of Big Twist and The Mellow Fellows and of the Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings. Payne gives us an inspired vocal and Edmonson contributes a fine guitar solo on their version. The band also includes Bill Singletary on bass and Nick Otis (the son of Johnny Otis) on drums. "Your Good Thing (Is About To Come To An End)," written by the team of Isaac Lee Hayes and David Porter, is given a deep Soul treatment by Payne. The medley of Rodger Collins' 1967 hit "She's Looking Good" and the Eddie Floyd/Booker T. Jones cut "I've Never Found A Love" becomes a nine-minute Soul opus featuring Singletary's bass, organ from Gail Deadrick, and backing singers.

The originals include "Can I Hit It Again" and "Take A Chance On Me," which are just wonderful. These two songs are bright and sexy and so are the horns. Carl Green (tenor and alto sax) and Lech Wierzynski (trumpet) provide great horn arrangements throughout the album. Lech's trumpet opens "Uptown Woman Downtown Man" and "Midnight Friend" features a Cropper-like guitar solo from Edmonson. "Bag Full of Doorknobs" is another well-written song. Mitch Kashmar (harmonica) guests on "I've Got a Mind to Go to Chicago" and on "No Money, No Honey." "Bringin' Me Right Back" is an original guitar instrumental from Edmonson. "Feel Like Going Home" is from Charlie Rich and it is given a Gospel-like arrangement.

This album is nicely produced by David Z. Delta Groove Records continues to record and develop artists based on their quality. The Jackie Payne-Steve Edmonson Band is a quality act and this is a fine recording.