John Young Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
John Young's final Argo session pairs the pianist with bassist Sam Kidd and drummer Phil Thomas--a solid if unremarkable date, A Touch of Pepper is nevertheless a textbook example of the soul-jazz trio aesthetic that emerged in Chicago during the early 1960s. The warm, light groove owes much to Ramsey Lewis, although Young's bluesy touch lends tracks like "Joey" and "Got a Lot of Living to Do" a hint of melancholy that sets the session apart--still, there's no real spark to spur the music to the next level, and while it's undeniably well-played, A Touch of Pepper simply doesn't deliver enough spice of life to demand repeated listening. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
John Young is a longtime Chicago-based pianist who the locals know and love, though he has recorded as a sideman more frequently than as a leader. This Delmark CD reissue of a pair of 1959 sessions features him leading a trio with bassist Victor Sproles and drummer Phil Thomas. To a blindfolded listener, his style suggests both Red Garland and Wynton Kelly (especially in the opener, "I Don't Wanna Be Kissed"), though he is very much his own man. He devours whole fellow pianist Ray Bryant's signature tune, "Cubana Chant." He incorporates a variation of "Freddie the Freeloader" to introduce the swinging blues "Bones" (possibly an original, but the CD unfortunately lacks any composer credits), which features Sproles' understated bass and Thomas' crisp brushwork. His arrangement of "When I Fall in Love" could easily be mistaken for Erroll Garner. This reissue adds a bonus of three valuable alternate takes. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
