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Jackie Payne, Steve Edmonson Band - Overnight Sensation

For those of you cynical about modern American music (perhaps you watched some of the Grammy Awards performances), this album is the antidote. It reflects some of the best aspects of musicianship that the continent is famous for, honed by years of touring the sort of extensive live circuit that can only exist in such a big country.

Jackie Payne is the elder statesman, lyricist and lead vocal, Steve Edmonson guitarist and general visionary. Their collective inventory of credits and mentors is a who's who of R&B, most of whom are acknowledged in at least one of the album tracks. The same is true of the band - for instance the drummer is Johnny Otis' son Nick. All the influences are evident, and the tributes, both lyrical and musical, sincere, but the band maintain their own voice throughout.

We start with the eponymous ‘Overnight Sensation', a song partially charting Payne's history, the ironic title taken from an overheard, new fan's comment. We are in effortless funky groove territory, which continues into the following ‘Can I Hit It Again'. The Sweet Meet Horns (Carl Green and Lech Weirzynski) are superb, as is Bill Singletary's bass playing.

‘Mother-in-law Blues' by Gene Barge shows off Edmonson's cultured guitar playing and Payne's vocal versatility, and the self penned blues ‘I Got A Mind To Go To Chicago' is a strong shuffle with some excellent guest harmonica from Mitch Kashmar from the Delta Groove stable.

Payne commits to each song, giving respective heartfelt and appropriate vocal performances. The floating ‘Take A Chance On Me' and the more driving ‘Midnight Friend' have shades of Al Green, but as ever, Payne retains his identity. I can hear Ray Charles singing the swinging ‘Uptown Woman Downtown Man' and there are soulful cover versions of ‘Your Good Thing (Is About To Come To An End)' and the Charlie Rich touring man's set closer ‘Feel Like Going Home'.

‘No Money, No Honey' and ‘Bag Full Of Doorknobs' remind me of Albert Collins style 70s blues funk. In Fact, Payne was the Collins band front man before Albert took up duty himself, supposedly at Payne's urging. The jazzy, soft shoe instrumental shuffle ‘Bringing Me Right Back' gives Edmonson a chance to take the limelight, with some nice B3 work from Gail Deadrick.

The nine minute medley track ‘She's Looking Good/ I've Never Found A Girl' is lifted straight from the live set, and is an obvious crowd pleaser, ranging from funky James Brown yelps to Eddie Floyd, Stax soul.

My advice? If you're in the San Fran Bay area anytime soon, make a date to catch these guys live - if not, here's the next best thing!

JB BLUE