Doug Deming & The Jewel Tones

Complicated Mess

Eller Soul Records

Doug Deming was born and raised in the greater Detroit area. Deming is a guitarist whose influences include R n’ B and Jazz pioneers T-Bone Walker and Charlie Christian. His debut recording “Double Down” was released in 2002. Deming came to national attention with his third album 2012’s “What’s It Gonna Take”. As a direct result Deming was the recipient of the 2013 Blues Blast Sean Costello Rising Star Award.

Deming currently resides on the Gulf Coast of Florida. His music combines traditional blues, rockabilly, jazz, swing, soul and R & B. This is Deming’s fourth album overall and first for Eller Soul Records. It was recorded at Jon Atkinson’s Big Tone Studios in Hayward, California. During his twenty year career Deming has toured and recorded with many top artists and some of them guest on this recording.

The band includes Deming, guitar and vocals; Andrew Gohman, upright and fender bass; and Marty Dodson, drums. Guests include harmonica aces Kim Wilson and Madison Slim; saxophone players “Sax” Gordon Beadle and Tino Barker; guitarist Little Charlie Baty; and keyboardists Bob Welsh and Chris Codish.

For this new recording Deming has written ten new songs. Also included are three familiar covers. Opening with the stripped down Chicago styled title track, featuring just the trio, Deming focuses on his guitar playing. “Fiery but clean, with a crisp, clear tone reminiscent of Charlie Christian”. He also possesses a warm and authentic vocal style.

Wilson is featured on both the swampy “Sweet Poison” and “Blues Stop Knockin”. The later is credited to record producer J.D. Miller but was written and recorded by Lazy Lester.

Slim takes over on harp on two Deming originals “Need My Baby” with Sam Farmer sitting in on drums, and on “Cookin At The Kitchen”.

Baty guests on another Deming original “Captain’s Quarters” and on Sam Theard’s “You Rascal You” first recorded by Cab Calloway in 1931.

The third cover, “I’m Walkin’”, is from New Orleans’ Fats Domino. Deming includes mostly original material on his recordings but he is a student of the R n’ B genre. His live shows include many more familiar tunes that just make you want to get up and dance.

This new album, just being released today, should further establish Deming as a great performer, songwriter and bandleader.

Richard Ludmerer

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