Contact: Rick Scott 310.306.0375
Saxophonist Justin Young’s “Blue Soul” powered by “High Definition”
The November 17 album release reflects his Motor City roots, driven by the set’s new single.
SEATTLE (9 October 2017): Justin Young
is hungry. The energetic and enthusiastic saxophonist is all about
hustle and hard work. For over a decade, he’s put out quality soul-jazz
albums, but his forthcoming disc, “Blue Soul,” captures an artist
hitting his stride on the cusp of a major breakthrough. Mining his
Detroit roots, Young’s fourth album, due November 17 via JustnTime Records,
features a dozen new songs recorded live in the studio with premier
musicians, producers and songwriting collaborators. Paving the way for
the collection is the new single, “High Definition,” a vibrant
R&B/pop confection just shipped to radio stations, a tune that Young
penned with fellow soul-jazz saxman Jackiem Joyner and keyboardist Matt Godina.
The
release of “Blue Soul” caps a lengthy recording odyssey for Young. His
approach for this outing was purposely different and taps into the
Motown lore that influenced his musical discoveries while growing up.
“I
started work on this album three and a half years ago. There have
probably been about 40 different songs written for this album. In the
past, I would write twelve songs, and then enter the studio quickly and
put out an album. But for ‘Blue Soul,’ I wanted to take a different
approach and put the absolute best songs out, really push myself to
elevate the standard this time around,” said Young, who had a hand in
writing all but one song on the album. “‘Blue Soul’ goes back to my
roots in music, Detroit, the home of Motown. I loved the creativity of
musicians recording together in the studio, creating an amazing vibe.
The opportunity to put high-quality musicians together along with
amazing producers has always been my dream. I watched this growing up
and listened to the Motown stories. ‘Blue Soul’ goes back to my love of
jazz and soul music. It’s organic, it’s played by consummate musicians
and it truly is soul music with saxophone at its beating heart.”
Throughout
“Blue Soul,” Young’s alto, tenor and soprano sax is embedded amidst
rhythms and grooves constructed by the likes of bassists Alex Al and Hussain Jiffry, and the late drummer to the stars, Ricky Lawson. Former Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist-vocalist Sheldon Reynolds
is another notable player who fortified Young’s lilting harmonies and
undeniable melodies. The first single, “Always There,” one of four cuts
written and produced by Joyner - a Billboard chart-topper in his own right - hit the Billboard Top 25 and the Smooth Jazz Top 20 Countdown. “Jazz Along The 101,” one of three tracks shepherded by gospel producer Noel Hall (Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond), kept Young’s momentum motoring along with both singles garnering daily spins on SiriusXM’s Watercolors. In response to Hurricane Harvey, he released the hopeful “Song For A Better Tomorrow” (https://youtu.be/PoL8NtcUwFw)
Young
began in music as a drummer and was introduced to a wide array of
styles - from R&B and pop to jazz and gospel – by his father, Jim Young,
who led and played in a variety of bands, encouraging his scion to play
sax. Landing his first professional concert at age sixteen, Young put
himself through Michigan State University by playing weekend gigs. He issued his debut album, “Rendezvous,” in 2003. After winning a competition at the famed Capital Jazz Fest in 2007, he released “On The Way.” A move to Southern California helped his following multiply quickly when he booked a year-long residency at Spaghettini,
a hot spot for the contemporary jazz crowd south of Los Angeles. Gigs
on the national festival circuit ensued as did subsequent recordings, “Home for the Holidays” and “Nothin’ But Love.” Young previewed music from “Blue Soul” at a Detroit show held at Chene Park
last July with 5,000 people in attendance and at a sold-out date in
August when he returned to Spaghettini. Now based near Seattle, he will
support the new record with a series of local concerts at nearby
wineries this fall. Resourceful and brand savvy, Young produces and
plies his effervescent personality as the host of “The Justin Young Audio Experience,” a podcast that teaches musicians about the business of music. For more information, please visit www.JustinYoungSax.com.
“Blue Soul” contains the following songs:
“Always There”
“Nothin’ But Love”
“Razzmajazz”
“Jazz Along The 101”
“Paradise Found”
“New Life”
“Blue Soul”
“Sorento”
“Sweet Release”
“India”
“Song For A Better Tomorrow”
“High Definition”
