Ian Young was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in Berkeley, CA, Boston, MA, and New York City. In his formative years, he studied with Joe Viola, George Coleman and Lenny Pickett. Upon graduating from Friends Seminary High School, he accepted a scholarship to the Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio, where he studied with Donald Walden, Robin Eubanks and Paul Cohen. While attending Oberlin, he played throughout Cleveland at such venues as Severence Hall and the Bop Stop.
After Oberlin, Ian returned to New York and has performed as a leader and a sideman at the Blue Note, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Sweet Rhythm, the Lenox Lounge, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium, et al. He has also performed at such festivals as the Newport Jazz Festival, Duke Ellington Jazz Fest, New Jersey Jazz Fest, and the Berkshire Jazz fest. In the past he has been recognized for his solo work at the Tri-C Jazz Festival in Cleveland, the Elmhurst Jazz Festival in Chicago, and the Notre Dame Jazz Festival. Ian Young’s playing was featured on VH1’s televison show, “Bill Clinton’s Rock ‘n Roll Special.â€
Ian Young has performed and/or recorded with a variety of noteworthy artists such as Charli Persip, Roy Hargrove, Amiri Baraka, Mike Wolff, Pete Yellin, Greg Bandy, Jaguar Wright, Sean Jones, Marcus Belgrave, James Newton, Joe Wilder, Alex Foster, Sherman Irby, Lenny Pickett, Houston Person, Etta Jones, Donald Harrison, Chris Parrello, Wycliffe Gordon, Wynton Marsalis, the Fat Cat Big Band, the New York Classics led by Jack Jeffers, the Bobby Lavell Big Band, Aaron Scott, James McBride, etc. Ian Young was also a member of legendary drummer Chico Hamilton's Group, Euphoria.
Ian Young is currently a member of Rahj & The Mash, which can be seen every Tuesday night at the Village Underground. Ian also plays lead alto in Charli Persip and Supersound. And he is a member of GDO Soul; a high-end corporate Party band.
Ian Young can be heard playing Tenor Saxophone on the upcoming CD by Michael Wolff entitled "Joe's Strut." This CD features Michael Wolff: Piano, Steve Wilson: Alto/Soprano Saxes, Richie Goods/Chip Jackson: Bass, Victor Jones: Drums. www.michaelwolff.com
Ian Young is a Manning Custom Artist and uses Manning Custom products exclusively. www.manningcustom.com. Photos by Todd Boebel. www.toddboebel.com
