Larry Young - Testifying + Young Blues + Groove Street + Forrest Fire / 2CD set

Larry Young (1940-1979) started off in the early 60s as a soul-jazz organist, and the three albums included on this 2-CD setTestifying, Young Blues, and Street Groove, are his first as a leader.

Recorded in 1960 and 1962 for the New Jazz/Prestige label, they document a period when the 20 year old organist was starting to establish a name for himself in the jazz scene. On a set of warmly swinging, thoroughly grooving performances, Young is in an astounding, persuasively blues-tinged mood, while guitarist Thornel Schwartz and drummer Jimmie Smith are the personification of steady and sympathetic support, consistently augmented with the addition of bassist Wendell Marshall in Young Blues. Tenor saxophonist Joe Holiday can be heard on two of the tunes of Testifying, while Bill Leslie sets the right mood for Groove Street.

As a bonus, this set includes five tracks from Forrest Fire, another 1960 record date with Young and his trio act as backing for the solid blowing of the full-bodied tenor of Jimmy Forrest. These sessions, relaxed and unpretentious, are the epitome of swing-rooted, soulful jazz.