One of the strengths of Marc Free's Posi-Tone imprimatur is that it is responsible for introducing us to many great and upcoming jazz artists. Drummer Jordan Young is a Detroit native who has studied with some of the best of the modern-day masters and is making a name for himself in New York. His sophomore release for Posi-Tone, Jazz Jukebox, is a bristling thirteen-track collection that lives up to its name. There's a nice smattering of standards, pop ditties, and hard bop chestnuts, each clocking in between three and four minutes. While the brevity of the performances might be construed as a negative on first glance, it actually further ties in with the theme at hand. Think seven-inch 45s with a song on each side and you get the idea.

Two pieces with ties to the classic Blue Note era of the 60s kick off the date. "Son of Ice Bag" figured prominently on Lonnie Smith's Think album, while Larry Young's "Paris Eyes" is a gem from the organist's Into Somethin'. Both receive a contemporary update with Brian Charette's iconic organ tone at the forefront. On the bop front, Wayne Shorter's "E.S.P." gets a spirited romp bolstered by Young's dry cymbal beat. Guitarist Matt Chertkoff speaks volumes both in his solid comping and fleet-fingered solo work, his tone and attack sounding like a cross between Melvin Sparks and Pat Martino.

Charette keeps it lowdown and greasy on Jimmy Smith's "Eight Counts for Rita." By contrast, he calls up some vibrato and gets that classic ballad feel on "I Want a Little Girl." Young likes to play with various grooves and manages to put a different spin on such disparate material as the theme from "Love Boat" and Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle." The former starts almost like a second line groove before morphing into a funk beat, while the latter number moves as a high octane waltz.

Tenor saxophonist Nick Hempton can be heard on four of the tracks and doesn't necessarily add or take anything away from the proceedings. What makes the trio cuts sparkle is the obvious connections these players have developed on the job. Jordan himself doesn't go out of his way to deliver flashy solos, but instead serves the music with his tasteful interjections. As just one example of many, listen to his tasty fills on the Charette's toe-tapping "Giant Deconstruction." Utilizing a vintage Gretsch kit, Young sounds like he's done his homework. Given even wider parameters, I would love to hear what other things he's got up his sleeves.


Track Listing: Son Of Ice Bag; Paris Eyes; I'm Only Sleeping; Sao Paulo Nights; ESP; Eight Counts For Rita; Rhythm-A-Ning; Time In A Bottle; Tadd's Delight; Giant Deconstruction; I Want A Little Girl; Love Boat; Will You Still Be Mine.

Personnel: Jordan Young: drums; Matt Chertkoff: guitar; Brian Charette: organ; Nick Hempton: tenor saxophone (2, 4, 6, 9).

Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records | Style: Modern JazzC. ANDREW HOVANAll ABOUT JAZZ
read more

POSI-TONE
JORDAN YOUNG/Jazz Jukebox: The drummer leads the organ trio on a romp of offbeat and on point selections, with some added originals, that make up his own eclectic version of a jazz juke box. A solid set made for good time rolling, the message here is to swing and this medium is loaded with that message. Solid stuff that doesn't quit, this is a jazz party to get on the list for. Well done.
8159Chris SpectorMidwest Record
read more

The predominance of the jukebox in social situations is essentially a thing of the past. But how much has really changed? Those once-ubiquitous machines that brought musical happiness to the good people in corner bars and diners throughout the land may have vanished, but the concept they put forward has not. It's simply been modernized, with shuffling playlists, random streaming, curated listening parties, and smartly programmed albums like this now carrying the jukebox flame and furthering the mix-it-up musical formula.

Jazz Jukebox is exactly what you'd expect, both based on the title and what drummer Jordan Young cooked up on his first two albums—Jordan Young Group (Self Produced, 2010) and Cymbal Melodies (Posi-Tone, 2012). It's a diverse program built on sharp and concise arrangements of jazz and pop nuggets. Everything from Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning" to Jim Croce's "Time In A Bottle" and Hugh Masekela's "Son Of Ice Bag" to Charles Ira Fox's campy "Love Boat" makes it into the mix, and nothing overstays its welcome. The longest tracks don't even crack the four-and-a-half minute mark.

Young keeps things moving here, largely focusing on upbeat material pulled from different corners of the music world. He nods to Larry Young with a performance of the organist's jaunty "Paris Eyes," gets his sloshy hi-hat going for a spell on The Beatles' "I'm Only Sleeping," prods organist Brian Charette and guitarist Matt Chertkoff during their solos on Wayne Shorter's "ESP," and trades with glee on "Tadd's Delight." If that's not enough variety, there's also Charette's "Giant Deconstruction," an odd-metered, ascending twist on John Coltrane's "Giant Steps"; Jimmy Smith's soulful and bluesy "Eight Counts For Rita," one of four numbers to bring tenor saxophonist Nick Hempton into play; and Chertkoff's arrangement of "Will You Still Be Mine," a caffeinated brush feature for the leader.

In choosing to work with Charette and Chertkoff, Young capitalizes on musical relationships that have been fostered over a long stretch of time—basically week in, week out at Tribeca's Authentic Bar B Flat and other New York haunts. Due to those bandstand-forged connections, this crew is incredibly comfortable in its own skin. That's something that tends to cut both ways. On the positive side, it makes for a strong team mindset in the music. All the stops, turns, and hits are incredibly tight. The group chemistry also fuels solid groove expressions—swinging, samba-esque, and soulful at different turns—which carry the music forward. The downside with the musical amity between these men is that it sometimes leaves the music wanting for more heat and/or friction. The band occasionally feels too comfortable. But is that really a problem? For most listeners, probably not. Those who dig the idea of sundry selections served up by a bright and polished trio fronted by an articulate drummer will be happy as can be when spinning Jordan Young's Jazz Jukebox.


Track Listing: Son Of Ice Bag; Paris Eyes; I'm Only Sleeping; Sao Paulo Nights; ESP; Eight Counts For Rita; Rhythm-A-Ning; Time In A Bottle; Tadd's Delight; Giant Deconstruction; I Want A Little Girl; Love Boat; Will You Still Be Mine.

Personnel: Jordan Young: drums; Matt Chertkoff: guitar; Brian Charette: organ; Nick Hempton: tenor saxophone (2, 4, 6, 9).

Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Posi-Tone Records | Style: Modern JazzDan BilawskyAll About Jazz
read more

I said last year that Jordan Young had great skill as a leader as well as performer. His group is solid and concise.

Making the jump from his independent self-titled debut to the perfect home of Posi-Tone Records, Jordan Young delivers his newest release, Cymbal Melodies. And it is just as pronounced and confident as his debut. A strong step forward.

The two opening numbers, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" are killer. Jordan turns "Raindrops..." into a real barn-burning. It's smokin' and really fun. You almost don't recognize it thanks to some crafty and infectious work by Charette and Rothbard. But Young's kit sounds explosive throughout. "...Phoenix" is midtempo with a groovy melody that is set with some clever and understated timing by Young. This while Charette and Rothbard give the tune a real sense of emotional structure.

"Bird Bath" is sneaky in its structure thanks to Charette's hip crunchy styling. The dialogue between Young and Charette (longtime bandmates) is superb. "Mood For McCann" is a funky number where Young unleashes Sucato and Rothbard to exchange some fierce lines that are quite soulful; they might have you reminiscing for Jack McDuff and Grant Green. 

With Cymbal Melodies , Jordan Young reaches the next level in what looks to be a sparkling career. Posi-Tone was the perfect choice for this release, fitting nicely with the label's current stable of artists. But more importantly, a great number of people will and should get to hear an artist who is quickly finding his voice as a composer and performer. Cymbal Melodies is a solid must listen.Stephan MooreJazz Wrap
read more

A few years ago Pat Metheny made a solo guitar ѣoversѠrecord WhatԳ It All About, a record I adore as much for the melodies he picked as how he nursed them. In discussing the idea behind the album. Metheny said,

I was born in 1954 and all of these songs were songs from the Top 40 during my childhood and early teen years. It was a period when harmony and melody were still important and viable elements in popular music. Every one of these songs has something going on that is just hip on musical level, no matter how you cut it. These are all pieces that have stuck with me over the years.

This was truly a golden era of the pop songwriter, and one of the most successful songwriter teams, because they were one of the best, was melody maker Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David. Metheny did in fact cover one of their famous songs, сlfie,Ѡbut any of another of their hits could have fit on that collection: єhe Look of Love,Ѡїalk On By,Ѡуlose To You,Ѡсlways Something There To Remind Me,Ѡфo You Know The Way To San Jose,Ѡand so on.

From the time of Tin Pan Alley, good melodies have made great fodder for jazz musicians, and one particular jazz drummer from Detroit recently tapped the Bacharach/David mother lode for his upcoming second release Cymbal Melodies. ђaindrops Keep FallinӠOn My Head,Ѡthe 1969, Oscar-winning chart topper as sung by B.J. Thomas, is handled in a creative way by Young and his band.S. Victor AaronSomething Else
read more

Jordan Young is a drummer leading a group on this recording that features Brian Charette on organ, Avi Rothbard on guitar and Joe Sucato on tenor saxophone. Young is a subtle drummer, using shades of texture and nuance instead of dramatic loud playing. The album is a very solid mainstream jazz session melding pop music, the earworm melody of ђaindrops Keep Falling on My HeadѠwhich flirts with cheese but never quite succumbs and ђoxanneѠwhich is played a seductive and slithering funk, weaving in and out of the song, developing a nice feature for Sucato.Tim NilandMusic and More
read more

On their self-titled debut. New York-based Jordan Young and his group go through a mix of different sounds, from a straight-ahead Hammond-based version of Cole Porter's "Every Time We Say Goodbye" to the more experimental "PinGs"—four short interludes spread throughout the disc that hint at the band's desire to tackle contemporary material while still keeping their admitted 1960s organ trio vibeErnest BarteldesAll About Jazz
read more

Organ albums have always been the comfort food of jazz. Buying one of the classics from the fifties and sixties, the line-up is almost certain (guitar and/or sax, drums, never a bass), and a bunch of songs that would satisfy some primal need for deep, funky grooves. However, this predictability ensured that a lot of them were pretty interchangeable, and after buying three or four of them it became apparent that there probably wasn't a need for any more. But just at the time when it seemed like the format had grown stale, there was a guy like Larry Young, working the fringes, and proving that the blues, and song titles laden with apostrophes were not all that the organ could offerDavid RikertAll About Jazz
read more

CD discoveries of the week. One of the best organ trio albums I've heard in a while is by drummer Jordan Young's Cymbal Melodies (Posi-Tone). Too many albums of this sort are overly moody or too candy pop. This oneis just rightеpbeat, groovy and melodic. And there are superb tracks here: By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head, Lee Morgan's Free Wheelin' and Grant Green's Grantstand as well as originals and other standards. Backing Young are Brian Charette on organ, Avi Rothbard on guitar and Joe Sucato on saxophone. Shades of the Mighty Burner, organist Charles Earland.Marc MyersJazz Wax
read more

I have to admit when I first saw the tune selection on this disc I wondered how in the world Jordan Young could pull it off. You have a hard bop tune from Lee Morgan along with some more classic covers from Grant Green and Irving Berlin and mixed in you see some more older popular standards from Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb and Sting. 

Life is easy, people make it hard. Same goes for music.

Jordan Young's Cymbal Melodies streets on Sept. 11th 2012 and given the variety of tunes served up the transitions are seamless and obvious potential pitfalls are easily avoided. The key to any good tune is melody. There is what I consider a predominant school of thought among some younger musicians that hanging out in odd meter and the speed is king mentality is a sure ticket for jazz stardom.Brent BlackCritical Jazz
read more

JORDAN YOUNG/Cymbal Melodies: It might be a drummer led session but organist Brain Charette grabs hold of the opening track тy the Time I get to PhoenixѠ and gives it a going over like this is his session. Once again, Young is behind one of the best organ jazz dates of the year of itԳ release and if you donԴ have this within easy reach any time youԲe stuck in traffic, the delay is going to seem a lot longer than it is. Smooth, wonderful stuff that kicks ass when and where you least expect. Check it out.Chris SpectorMidwest Record

past performances

Wednesday, October 26, 2016
"Jazz Jukebox" CD Release Party @ Smalls
Smalls jazz Club
New York, NY 10014
Brian Charette - Organ
Matt Chertkoff - Guitar
Nick Hempton - Tenor Saxophone
Jordan Young - Drums
Organ Trio "Standards" and Original Tunes
https://www.smallslive.com/

Saturday, October 22, 2016
Charette & Alfredson
SpeakEZ
Grand Rapids, Mi

Friday, October 21, 2016
Charette & Alfredson
BLU
Akron, OH

Thursday, October 20, 2016
Charette & Alfredson
Nighttown
Cleveland, OH

Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Charette/Myers/Young Organ Trio
The Greenwhich
Cincinnati, Oh 45206

Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Charette & Alfredson
Moriarty's
Lansing, Mi

Monday, October 17, 2016
Charette & Alfredson
Uncommon Ground Edgewater
Chicago, IL

Sunday, October 16, 2016
All About The Organ
Kerrytown Concert House
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
click here for more info

Saturday, October 15, 2016
Charette & Alfredson
Black Lotus
Clawson, Mi
4 Fisted Double Hammond Organ Madness

Friday, October 14, 2016
Brian Charette Trio
The Rex
Toronto, Canada
Brian Charette - Organ
Ted Quinlan - Guitar
Jordan Young - Organ
http://www.therex.com