Larry Young

The Profile

Larry Young (1940–1978) was an American jazz organist noted for his Hammond B3 work and a modal approach that moved beyond soul-jazz into post-bop and more adventurous territory. He recorded for Blue Note and later played with Tony Williams' Lifetime.

Born 1940, died 1978. Best-known recordings include Unity (Blue Note, 1965) and Into Somethin'. Collaborators on Unity included Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson and Elvin Jones. Recorded for Blue Note and later worked with Tony Williams' Lifetime.

The available review celebrates Larry Young's Unity as his masterpiece and a Blue Note classic. It highlights Young's commanding Hammond B3, the contributions of Woody Shaw, Joe Henderson and Elvin Jones, and the album's synthesis of hard bop, Coltrane-derived modal ideas and hints of free jazz.