Updated: February 23, 2025
Born: December 13, 1953
Originally from Decatur, Illinois, Barry Deister immersed himself in the fertile jazz community at the University of Illinois from 1972-1975 before moving to Chicago in 1975. While in Chicago he played with many of the local jazz artists including Robert Shy, John Campbell, Kelly Sill, Joel Spencer, David Urban, Ed Petersen and many more. He relocated to the West coast in 1985 and was co-leader of the popular Eugene, Oregon based jazz quarter "Meridian" recording and performing at many of the West coast clubs & jazz festivals. During that time he was fortunate to have performed in concert with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and avant guard composer/saxophonist Anthony Braxton.
In 1989 he formed the collective quartet "East/West Dialogue" including the influential composer/pianist Jim McNeely producing 2 recording sessions of his original works that were released on the Frankfurt, Germany based L&R Records.
He is currently living in Portland, Oregon and leading a quintet with trumpeter Paul Mazzio, bassist Jon Lakey, drummer Tim Rapp and pianist Randy Porter and has just released their first project Melbourne Memories" which are a collection of compositions reflecting his impressions on the landscape and culture of Melbourne, Australia.
Tags
All About Jazz Articles
Barry Deister Quintet: An African Suite
by Scott Lichtman
It is not uncommon for jazz artists to borrow from world music to enliven their pieces--adding a dash of spice as it were. It is even rarer (with Latin jazz being an exception) for musicians to dive deeply into indigenous music forms and deliver an authentic, integrated sonic concept. Most unique are album-length projects that successfully meld genres while delivering an ear-pleasing, swinging whole. In this most special category comes An African Suite, a remarkable album from Barry ...
Continue ReadingBarry Deister: Hemispheres
by Jack Bowers
Tenor saxophonist Barry Deister labels his sextet on Hemispheres a Collective, and for good reason--two of the musicians on Deister's fourth album are from the U.S., the others from Melbourne, Australia. Although the way they managed to work that magic isn't spelled out in the album's notes, the group performs seamlessly on seven of Deister's original compositions, which would seem to indicate that everyone was in the same studio in Preston, Australia, when the session was recorded in February 2023. ...
Continue ReadingThe Barry Deister Quintet: Music for Jazz Quintet & Strings
by Richard J Salvucci
Some music really does speak to the soul, inadvertently, but effectively, nonetheless. And there are painters, real painters, of whom Barry Deister is one. And so are the musicians who accompany him on this truly beautiful set of compositions. Since these are difficult times, there are days when everything seems to be an effort. It is beyond reassuring to play something that is somehow edgy, but in a calm way, and not contrived, but deep and searching. “Music for Jazz ...
Continue ReadingBarry Deister Quintet: Crows - The Portland Images Project
by Jack Bowers
Crows, a new recording by saxophonist Barry Deister's quintet, embodies a series of tone poems designed to depict in musical terms various features of the area in and around Portland, Oregon--a locale that Deister and his colleagues call home--as part of the Portland Images Project. Their themes range from ephemeral ("Winter Wind," “Fog," “Cascade Sunrise") to material ("Yellow Flower," “The Falls," “Crows") with one ("Burnside Blues") depicting a street that traverses the length of the city and theoretically splits it ...
Continue Reading
