The Dave Young Jazz Sextet
*Dave Young/Bass *Kevin Turcotte/Trumpet *Terry Promane/Trombone
*Perry White/Tenor Sax *Bernie Senensky/Piano *Mark Kelso/Drums

Dave Young's Jazz Sextet

A Who's Who of Jazz Musicians in Canada, they perform a wealth of Jazz Repertoire from Dixieland to Swing to Blues and Contemporary Jazz. Music emphasizing the American Song Book Composers, as well as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Horace Silver.

Recently featured at the Young President's Organization International Event at the Mars Centre in Toronto, this Jazz Sextet is ideal entertainment for:
* Openings * Marketing Events
* Conventions * Corporate Receptions

Dave Young Jazz Sextet music files - click titles to download

Dave Young's association with Oscar Peterson began at Banff in 1974. The Peterson/Young Jazz Duo toured worldwide from January to June in 1975.

Upon the death of Neils Pedersen, internationally famous bassist in the Oscar Pertersen Quartet, Oscar has recently written in his online journal:

“ It unexpectedly came to my mind that perhaps it was time to call on a gentleman whose musical talents and personality I have always enjoyed.”

“David (Young) has been known, not only in Canadian music circles but because of his various travels in other countries, to be a more than talented bassist …..I immediately called on Dave to stand in the now empty bass position in my quartet. This was a decision that was made without any second thoughts due to the fact that David and I have worked and recorded together at earlier periods in my career. Happily, he responded unhesitatingly, and immediately agreed to join us. For those of you who may not be familiar with David's work, let me say this: David has stepped into a line of heavy jazz bass tradition that has preceded him. It is no easy task to
follow the musical offerings of bassists such as Sam Jones, Ray Brown and Niels-Henning Pedersen. I cannot think of too many other bassists that would have the courage and, needless to say, the talent to walk in those musical footsteps!”

About Dave Young……..

In recognition of his remarkable career in jazz, Dave Young was honoured at “The 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 National Jazz Awards” as “Jazz Bassist of the Year” . The award was richly deserved, and is a tribute to Dave Young's highly developed musical sensibility, versatility and life-long commitment to Jazz.

There is no doubt that Winnipeg born bassist Dave Young possesses artistic soul, and musical skill in abundance. His international career has made him a much sought after jazz bassist, performing with many of the world's greatest jazz musicians, as well as with his own Jazz Sextet, Quartet and Trio .

Dave Young & Lenny Breau - click picture to hear music file

Dave Young's elegant and moving performances with the late
guitarist Lenny Breau are legendary. Lenny Breau was an uncrowned king of jazz fingerstyle guitar. He startled newcomers to his music by his ability to sound like two guitarists, tastefully blending his influences of country, jazz and flamenco.

About “ Live at Bourbon Street ”, the 1983 recording Dave Young made with Lenny Breau, Dave Young has said, “ This recording was the culmination of many years of music making with Lenny… a duo recording, it has a chamber music feel, but always swings”.

Equally comfortable with acoustic jazz and classical music, Dave is a double threat. Young brings jazz bass playing to a new level because of his technical skill (no doubt a direct result of his extensive classical disciplines).. As classical artist, he was the Principal Double Bassist with the Edmonton and Winnipeg
Symphonies. As a jazz artist, he often shines brightest in his collaborative efforts with great jazz musicians.

Jazz artists with whom Dave Young has shared the stage and recording studio is a veritable “Who's Who” of international jazz…including Canada's jazz giant Oscar Peterson (with whom Dave has had a twenty-five year professional relationship), Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Oliver Jones, Rob McConnell, Cedar Walton, Peter Appleyard, Ed Bickert, Ranee Lee, Don Thompson, and James Moody.

Dave Young & Cedar Walton

Dave Young has had an extensive recording career with a number of diverse artists, such as Cedar Walton. Walton was emblematic of the musicians of the 1960s who continued to express themselves in the hard-bop jazz vernacular. At the Denver Club he performed with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane, who would sit in with Walton's group when they passed through Denver .

Dave Young met Cedar Walton at Café Des Copains in the early 80's, where he heard him perform. “I sat in with him at the Café and we subsequently performed several times at the Montreal Bisto in Toronto . Cedar is one of my favorite pianists because he has an impeccable sense of time and harmonic structure.”

“ Tale of the Fingers” , a CD with Cedar Walton was released in 2001, and was nominated for a Juno Award.

Dave has appeared numerous times at the Montreal Bistro in Toronto and re-united recently with Cedar Walton (to rave reviews) this past February 2003.

Mark Miller of The Globe & Mail said of the performance, “Walton's improvisations were…exhaustive…and the respite that Young offered in his occasional solo spots… countered the pianist's cool and often unyielding approach with something warmer and, line by line, far more supple."

Click to hear: “Tale of the Fingers” & “Ode to the Southwest”

Dave Young, James Campbell & Gene DiNovi


In the classical milieu, Dave regularly tours with clarinetist James Campbell and pianist Gene Di Novi in a program of “Classical Fusion” that melds the classical and jazz worlds into a fascinating and entertaining musical program. James Campbell , well known classical clarinet virtuoso leads the James Campbell Trio which features Gene DiNovi and Dave Young. A professor of music at Indiana University 's famous music school, Campbell is also Director
of the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound , ON .

Gene DiNovi , Canada's senior stateman of jazz piano, received his baptism
of fire in New York when Dizzy Gillespie called him to the stage. Di Novi has accompanied such singers as Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, Carmen McRae, and
Anita O'Day.

The exchange between classical and jazz music idioms has lead to exciting music making. As Dave Young says, “I had performed classical repertoire
with Jim and jazz with Gene, and it seemed like a natural development to combine both styles of music in our trio.”

Dave Young, Phil Dwyer & Michel Lambert

“We Three” is a recent collaborative project between Dave Young, bassist, Phil Dwyer , pianist and composer , and Michel Lambert , drummer. The CD was released on
the “TorontoSound.com” cyber label, and the musicians subsequently embarked on a national tour in 2002, performing material from this remarkable recording.

Click to hear "Tricotism"

Dave Young | Phil Dwyer Quartet

In recent years, Dave Young has released several award winning recordings as leader on the Justin Time label. “Fables and Dreams” , with co-leader Phil Dwyer won a 1993 Juno Award for “Best Mainstream Jazz Recording”. “The music files below (said Dave Young) of “Whims of Chambers” is a composition by one of my all time favorite bassists, Paul Chambers. “Fables of Faubus” was a musical protest against the segregationist regime of Gov. Orville Faubus in Arkansas, and the tune was by Charles Mingus, my favorite composer of the 60's era.

Click to hear
"Whims Of Chambers"
"Fables Of Faubus"

In 1995 Dave Young released the CDs “ Two By Two - Volume 1” , followed by “ Two By Two - Volume 2”, and “Volume 3” in 1996 . Garnering fine reviews from the media, these CDs featured performances with piano jazz greats Oscar Peterson, Cedar Walton, Ellis Marsalis and others. Dave's work was singled out by noted jazzwriter Bill Milkowski who wrote in Jazz Times: “…Flawless time, big, buoyant tone and bold solo ideas…keen instincts and depth of musicality. The results of (his playing) are a testament to his ability to listen and adapt his concept of time from player to player.”

Dave has said: The Duo Albums have been very successful projects for me as they have encouraged spontaneous music making – “One Finger Snap” with Kenny Baron was recorded in one take; Op &d D with Oscar Peterson was spontaneously composed and recorded on the spot for the first volume of these duo recordings.”

Click to hear
Volume 1, "OP & D", with Oscar Peterson
Volumne 2, "One Finger Snap", with Kenny Baron
"Blowing The Blues", with Ellis Marsalis
Volume 3, "Think Of One", with Kenny Baron