Biography of Larry Young

An excellent, but greatly overlooked organist whose approach to the organ was many years ahead of its time. Young offered an alternative to the soul-jazz, bass-pedal-heavy style dominant in the 60s, and played in a swirling, loose, and rock-influenced fashion that was most favorably showcased in Tony Williams's Lifetime trio of the late 60s and early 70s, and also in his work with Miles Davis. Young made some more conventional jazz dates for Blue Note, but even these displayed a technique that was quite different from any other organist of the period. A recent Mosaic box-set showcases Young's Blue Note material in a comprehensive manner; The Lifetime material has also been reissued. ~ Ron Wynn