LP-612

John Young Trio - Young John Young

Released 1956

Recording and Session Information

Chicago, Illinois 1956
John Young, piano; Herbert Brown, bass; Larry Jackson, drums

8364 Bags' groove
8365 The boy next door
8366 Star eyes
8367 The continental
8368 It never entered my mind
8369 Cherry pink and apple blossom white
8370 Invitation
8371 Three penny opera
8372 Close to me
8373 Theme from "Warsaw concerto"

Track Listing

Three Penny Opera		1956
Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White		1956
Invitation		1956
Star Eyes		1956
Warsaw Concerto		1956
It Never Entered My Mind / Spring Is Here		1956
The Boy Next Door		1956
Bags’ Groove		1956
Close to Me		1956
The Continental		1956

Liner Notes

Approaching his middle thirties, pianist, John Young, still maintains in his musical approach the same youthful exuberance and sparkle that has, since his early playing days, been the dominant factor in his everlasting popularity, with audience and fellow musician alike.

Listing such top musicians as his leader over a period of 15 years of professional music-making, as Andy Kirk, Gene Ammons, Eddie Chamblee, Ben Webster, Sonny Stiff, and King Kolax, "Young John Young", has run the gamut of popular musical expression, from society-tinged dance music and rhythm & blues, to the purest forms of swinging Jazz.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, John hit Chicago early enough to begin his initial schooling here, and before terminating it, had, as have the maiority of the Southsides top musicians, undergone the valuable teaching of Capt. Walter Dyett, the renowned musical director of DuSable High School.

After too many years on the road with the various leaders listed, John decided to make his own mark in the musical world, and formed the versatile trio he now directs. After a period at the famous BeeHive, as a complete rhythm section for the various stars that appeared there, John moved his group to the intimate 63rd St. spot known as the Kitty Kat club, where he has been for the past two years.

When cutting this album it was decided to give his new-found audience the opportunity to hear the many faceted forms of John's artistry, and therefore it was agreed to present each side as near as possible as a complete set would be presented on the stand most any night at the Kitty Kat.

Since the inception of his present group, John has been able to maintain the same sidemen...Herbert Brown, bass and Larry Jackson, drums...which as anyone in the music business will attest to, is quite a managerial accomplishment. The interplay, and counter-balancing that add so much to the trio's musical Value are the results of this long and profitable association of these three top modern musicians.

I think you, the listener, will agree whole-heartedly with me, in the premise that though John Young has reached the age of maturity when musical habit usually supplants adventuresomeness, he still maintains, with uncompromising consistency, the youthful awareness and daring which makes his playing, and his Trio, a musical treat to behold. This, then is "Young, John Young", and this album couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

JOE SEGAL
Chicago Columnist,
Metronome Magazine

THE MUSIC
SIDE ONE
1. A typical set would open with the swinging approach to the theme from "The Three Penny Opera", "MACK THE KNIFE", with drummer Jackson providing the constant bongo beat around which Brown plays a walking two-four time, and John embellishes to his happy heart's content. A most enioyable set opener.

2. Number two selection is a drum showcase for Larry Jackson, in which his fondness for the Latin American rhythms shines through, and surrounds John's interpretation Of '*CHERRY PINK & APPLE BLOSSOM WHITE".

3. "INVITATION", the pretty, and relaxed third tune maintains the Latin feeling, and demonstrates that togetherness previously mentioned.

4. The tune "Bird" helped to re-establish as a favorite, "STAR EYES", is given a bounce treatment between the Latin intro and out riff, with some swingy fours between piano and drums adding a nice snap to entire proceedings.

5. A complete departure from the Jazz bent tunes in the trios repertoire is the closing selection of set (side) one. the main theme from the beautiful, "WARSAW CONCERTO", which flows almost imperceptably from the straight no-tempo Statement of the famous melody into the merest suggestion of a swinging lilt. Herein, John Young most easily demonstrates just exactly why the respect he garners from world renowned musicians is so well deserved.

SIDE TWO
l. John's choice of two lovely ballads, NEVER ENTERED MY MIND", and "SPRING IS HERE", arranged in medley style, opens the curtain on set two, and shows off Herbert's excellent bowing talents to great advantage.

2. Happiness is the tune called, / "THE BOY NEXT DOOR", as played by John Young's Trio, with bass and drum breaks figuring in as part of the melodic line. John's sometimes obvious affinity for the great Art Tatum enhances portions of this tingly affair.

3. "BAGS GROOVE", for me, is one of the high spots of the entire session, with John's first flurries of runs after the opening theme providing an excellent example of just how vigorously exciting a controlled raucousness can be...Herbert's bass solo and Larry's four bar breaks finish out this most swinging side, with the triple ending bouncing things off into the mood that's iust right for the next tune.

4. Ballad time again, with the pretty original, "CLOSE TO ME", relaxing the feeling once more into a low pressure groove; the kind of groove that in a small intimate spot leads to the happy ringing of the cash register.

5. To close out the set and this album John chose the evergreen, "THE CONTINENTAL," and more apropo this choice could not be; for throughout this, his first LP, John Young's musical talent has proven its worldly scope.

Recording Engineer — JACK WEINER
Supervision —PHIL CHESS