Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jordan Young: Jordan Young Group

Jordan Young: Jordan Young Group

By Karl Ackermann
December 10, 2010
View read count

The Brooklyn-based Jordan Young Group has an unusual lineup featuring drummer Young, guitarist

Yotam Silberstein

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Yotam Silberstein, saxophonist Joe Sucato and organist

Brian Charette

organ, Hammond B3
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Brian Charette. Self-described as an organ group,

Jimmy Smith

organ, Hammond B3
1925 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Smith and

Jack McDuff

organ, Hammond B3
1926 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Jack McDuff are cited among its influences. Organ has been part of jazz since the

" data-original-title="" title="">Fats Waller days, but has never had an ongoing prominent role in the genre. In large part, the sustained harmonics of the organ limit its scope in music that is fundamentally rooted in the flexibility to build and break textures with regularity. On its self-titled debut, the group succeeds in bringing the best out of this formation, creating a fresh approach to classics and originals with inventive arrangements.

The set opens with

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Metheny's "H and H," and the band immediately displays its ability to swing in the traditional sense. It's evident from the beginning that Sucato and Charette create a synergy between their instruments that is similar to a saxophone and trumpet frontline. They leave room for distinction, and yet there are times when they match tones as if they were playing in the same instrument family. On covers such as "Every Time We Say Goodbye" and "Angola," both players repeatedly demonstrate the flexibility to work together in this fashion, generating results that are greater than the sum of their considerable individual contributions.

All of Silberstein's significant guitar skills are on display throughout the collection. His style is part

Wes Montgomery

guitar
1923 - 1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Wes Montgomery, and part acoustic Hendrix. The latter is best seen in the four, consecutively numbered interstitial tracks, "PiNGs." These Charette-penned numbers are the free jazz components of Jordon Young Group, and Silberstein's lightning quick dexterity compliments Charette's improvisation, which ranks up there with

Don Pullen

piano
1941 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Pullen's avant-garde Hammond work. Here, as throughout the collection, Sucato's tenor displays an expertise in timing, technique and sensitivity. His talent is especially evident on

Joe Henderson

saxophone
1937 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Henderson's "Afro-Centric," where he implements his own touch to enhance a master's work.

Like many of the best drummers, Young himself is as understated as he is talented. He displays both the fine nuance of

Paul Motian

drums
1931 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian and the driving improvisational skills of

Han Bennink

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Han Bennink. He plays with soul and he plays with force, when and where needed. Though he covers all the bases, it is never with a business-as-usual approach. Regularly present at New York clubs such as Smoke and Smalls, the Jordan Young Group has a unique grasp of styles and a promising future.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

H and H; Every Time We Say Goodbye; PinGs 1; Jean de Fleur; Claudes Monet; PinGs 2; Afro-Centric; JF Blues; PinGs 3; My One And Only Love; Angola; PinGs 4.

Personnel

Jordan Young

drums

Joe Sucato: tenor sax; Brian Charette: Hammond B-3 organ; Yotam Silberstein: guitar; Jordan Young: drums.

Album information

Title: Jordan Young Group | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Self Produced

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Jordan Young Group
< Previous

An Evening With Jethro Tull's Ian An...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.