Deemus Buy Now!
Barrett Deems with Chuck Hedges
Chuck Hedges: Clarinet,
Don DeMichael, Vibes
Bob Roberts: Lead Guitar,
John Defauw: Rhythm Guitar,
Steve Behr: Piano,
Wilson McKindra: Bass,
Barrett Deems: Drums

1. Deed I Do
(Rose/Hirsch; ASCAP)
2. New Orleans
(Carmichael; PSO Ltd, ASCAP)
3. Shine
(Dabney/Brown/McPherson; Shapiro,
Bernstein & Co., ASCAP)
4. After You’ve Gone
(Creamer/Layton
5. Seven Come Eleven
(B. Goodman/C. Christian; Regent Music,
BMI/RagBag Music, ASCAP)
6 Six Appeal
(B. Goodman; Regent Music, BMI)
7. I Love Paris
(Cole Porter; Chappel/Boston Hill, ACC, ASCAP)
8. Get Happy
(Arlen/Koeler; Remick Music/S.A. Music, ASCAP)

Delmark DD - 492
Recorded 4/22, 1978 at Shade Tree Studio, Lake Geneva, WI
Engineer; Andy Waterman – Mixed by Paul Serrano
cover photography: Tom Buckley – CD Design: Kate Hoddinot

Liner Notes

THE FOLLOWING INCLUDES MATERIAL FROM THE ORIGINAL UNSIGNED LINER NOTE BY DON DeMICHAEL

The irrepressible Barrett Deems, the man stoking the fire on this record, credits his nickname, Deemus, as a reference to the great drum god of mythology Demuskrotis who, it is written, watches over and inspires percussionists. After a half-century of superlative playing, this was Barrett’s first album as leader. Born in Springfield, IL, he joined the Joe Venuti Orchestra in the mid-’3Os, spent a decade or so with Louis Armstrong, also appeared at length with Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman and has been a mainstay on the Chicago scene since retiring from steady roadwork in the ‘60s to settle in at Jazz, Ltd. (Thanks Bill), the Gaslight Club, Rick’s Cafe American and—most recently— at Andy’s and anywhere good jazz can be heard. His wonderful big band (heard on How D’You Like It So Far? — Delmark 472) has always featured stellar hornmen like Brad Goode, Rich Corpolongo, and others. One must mention Barrett the character... the old guy with the young mouth... the irascible veneer over the heart of gold. Did he catch that from Venuti? (And by the way, when is he going to come out with the Venuti practical joke book?) Chuck Hedges’ soaring improvisations may remind you of BG or Shaw at their best but he’s developed his own swinging style after years of experiencing the early history of jazz with George Brunis, Danny Alvin, Dave Remington, Sid Dawson, Jim Beebe as well as the late and legendary Milwaukee trumpeter Dick Ruedebusch. (There are at least three other Delmarks featuring Chuck: The Swingtet Live At Andy’s — Delmark 465; Skylark — Delmark 483, with Johnny Varro and another Swingtet album to come.)

Barrett Deems is one of the great drummers in jazz, belonging in the thoroughbred class with Dodds, Krupa, Rich, Catlett, Tough, Wettling, Roach, Clarke, Haynes and the Joneses (Jo, Philly Joe and Elvin).