Menu
Hastings & St. Leonards on-line community newspaper

Rod Youngs 600

Rod Youngs in town to drum up a storm at Jazz Hastings

London-based American drummer Rod Youngs, who will be headlining at this month’s Jazz Hastings’ session on 12 February, has been described as one of the most expressive and adept musicians on the current jazz scene. Julian Norridge looks forward to his visit.

His approach to music is intuitive, emotional and all embracing, but soundly rooted in the jazz tradition. Whether playing mainstream jazz, world music or urban contemporary, he moves seamlessly from one genre to another, always preserving stylistic conventions whilst injecting creativity and individuality.

“Rod Youngs,” wrote one critic, “has a uniquely identifiable style: loose-limbed, ever so slightly behind the beat, giving everything a great sense of swing.”

Rod Youngs, centre, with Denys Baptiste and Larry Bartley.

Rod Youngs, centre, with Denys Baptiste and Larry Bartley.

His journey in music began in his youth and blossomed into a distinguished career that has spanned over two decades. A native of Washington DC, Rod developed an interest in music from his father, who managed some of DC’s foremost R&B bands. He developed a life-long obsession with drums and percussion.

This led to him enrolling in the DC Youth Orchestra Programme, where he studied orchestral percussion. At around the same time he acquired his first drum kit and began independently developing his jazz skills. He continued his studies at Howard University and then at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester N.Y., where he studied jazz performance.

Since those early years, Rod’s consummate musicianship has brought him a wide variety of work including concerts, numerous recordings and sessions for radio, TV and film. He has become the drummer of choice for a formidable array of artists including Gil Scott-Heron, Courtney Pine, Natalie Cole, Mica Paris, Abdullah Ibrahim and Julian Joseph, as he was for the late Hugh Masakela.

He will be joined for this performance by long-term collaborators Denys Baptiste on saxophone and Larry Bartley on bass.

 

Rod Youngs Trio Jazz Hastings, Tuesday 12 February, East Hastings Sea Angling Association (on the Stade behind the lifeboat station). Doors open 7.45pm for 8.30 start, tickets £10 on the door.

 

If you’re enjoying HOT and would like us to continue providing fair and balanced reporting on local matters please consider making a donation. Click here to open our PayPal donation link. Thank you for your continued support!

Posted 18:00 Wednesday, Feb 6, 2019 In: Music & Sound

Also in: Music & Sound

«
»
More HOT Stuff
  • SUPPORT HOT

    HOT is run by volunteers but has overheads for hosting and web development. Support HOT!

    ADVERTISING

    Advertise your business or your event on HOT for as little as £20 per month
    Find out more…

    DONATING

    If you like HOT and want to keep it sustainable, please Donate via PayPal, it’s easy!

    VOLUNTEERING

    Do you want to write, proofread, edit listings or help sell advertising? then contact us

    SUBSCRIBE

    Get our regular digest emails

  • Subscribe to HOT