Doug Deming is the type of artist that sneaks up on you. Maybe it's just that he don't let ego get in the way. Or maybe he's generous to a fault. He never overplays his part or steals the scene. Everyone in the Jeweltones is a star..a cog in the wheel. During the show Doug would often demure to the others. He repeatedly gave tribute to Fingers Taylor and the other superb musicians in the Jeweltones - Bob Conner on stand-up bass and Charle Kottak on drums. But he never even hinted at self-promotion or sounding off his own horn. That's OK 'cos his playin' and singin' does that talking for him. Doug plays no frills rootsy music - 12-bar blues, jump and swing. And he records in that almost forgotten style with a big fat sound and echoed vocals . He avoids multi-tracking frills and gizmos and such in favor of real music played by real human beings...

Deming is the type of guitar player that makes every note count. He plays with a fat tonal purity that makes that full-bodied Gibson sing and purr. And when you add Fingers Taylor honkin' like a freight train, something special's bound to happen. And the night proved to be more than special - like sinkin' your teeth into a hot buttered ear of sweet corn...mmm

The band started the show with wide open jazzy instrumental that gave everyone a chance to shine.

Charlie Kottak proved to have some impressive strokes and could lay down some righteous syncopated jazz riffs in the tradition of Buddy Rich...or Buddy Miles.
Bassist Bob Conner completes an air-tight rhythm section with his nimble bass lines.

From the 12-bar blues of "Tell Me" to the stinging guitar shuffle of "Party Girl" (thank you T-Bone) and the exhuberant rock 'n' roll of Ike Turner's 1951 breakthrough "Rocket 88" (widely considered to be the first bonafide rock 'n' roll recording), Doug and the Jeweltones proved eclectic and versatile.

But they didn't rest on their laurels. Doug pulled out all stops...hittin' the mark with Bobby 'Blue' Bland's "I Smell Trouble" and taking Shakey Jake's ("Roll Your Moneymaker") Chicago style start/stop blues into orbit. He even performed a ballad with a cool jazz vibe "I'll Always Be In Love With You" that would fit nicely in Sinatra's impressive catalog of music. The haunting philosophical "Make it Last" from Doug's debut CD "Double Down" is a standout in an incredible and energetic set.

They even pulled out Doug's version of thejump blues chestnut "Whisper".Though it was recorded by Fingers Taylor for his return-to-his-roots CD, "Hi Fi Baby", Doug sings a smooth-as-silk lead vocal in this dynamic live version. Finger's sonic-boom harpwork is like igniting a stick of dynamite.
Great tune

The night belonged to the faithful, those keen root-music fans that can appreciate our musical heritage and understand the importance of Doug's contribution in keeping our music alive.

Bo White