Front Row, Center, September 26 at 6:30 PM sax man Justin Young, ‘The Winery’ in Tustin

Sorry for the dark venue…but I’m certain you’ll agree…this was fun!youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJYoBXOglwA
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Justin Young on Sax(s)
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, Tustin, CA

Saxophone: Justin Young
Keyboard: Daniel Davis
Percussion: Mark Gagliano

Wow, ‘The Winery’, what a gorgeous venue! Marble floors and a wine cellar feel murmured barrel-tasting fun! I arrived just seconds before Justin and the ‘boys’. After a quick ‘hi’ and introduction to the other artists, the guys became immersed in the set up. My perfect glass of cab arrived as I looked on. The excitement of his debut performance began to unfold as family and friends trickled in more than an hour before ‘show time’. Young glowed from ear-to-ear reuniting, reminiscing and connecting. I met his beautiful wife, Rachael.
Justin Young~
“We’re gonna do a really quick sound check.”
Infectious energy in tow, Justin sauntered through the venue sound checking his soprano sax, while percussionist Mark Gagliano warmed up the skins and keyboardist Daniel Davis poured over charts.
Justin turned to me~
“We’re gonna go get ready! Good stuff! It’s gonna be fun! It’s all my friends! They kept sayin’, ‘Play somewhere in Irvine!’”
We chatted briefly. Justin’s infectious energy is adrenaline personified. He and the band members broke briefly. Ten minutes later, they returned to the stage clad in teal ties and matching white hats.
From Justin to the band~
“Okay, guys!”
Lights and action, it was hit-it-boys time in the house!
Justin Young~
“Alright Winery, how are you guys? How are ya? We’re gonna do a few quick songs. This one’s called Lost Without You.”
Justin hit the soprano sax, low key, easy vibe with the band perfectly synced. Cool cat Daniel’s velvety keys blended magically with the Mark Gagliano’s percussion. Their Sunday night vibe melted the venue as Justin caressed the audience serenade-by-serenade. It didn’t take long for him to heat things up and split this jazzy party wide open.
Justin~
“Yeah, guys!”
Young’s surname appropriately says it all! His youthful charisma weaved through every nook and cranny of the venue. He tossed the cut back to the boys for a duet of sorts, then it was back to Mr. Saxy J man to put the icing on this cake.
Justin~
“Are you guys enjoying the beautiful weather out there? We’re gonna keep it light for those of you having dinner. I have an unbelievable band with me tonight!”
He introduced keyboardist Daniel Davis and percussionist Mark Gagliano.
Young~
“This is Forever.”
Justin’s soprano finesse rivaled Kenny G on this classic cover song. His ‘it factor’ surfaced and he had the audience eating out of his hand. Breathlessly, I watched a saxophonist I had not experienced for over two years, blossom like a spring flower.
Justin~
“Thank you, so much! This is our first time performing at ‘The Winery’. My name is Justin Young. I’ve been performing saxophone for over fourteen years. I don’t know how many of you know, but I’m gonna be auditioning for America’s Got Talent in October! Okay, here’s something for all you Temptations fans. Do we have any Temptation fans out there? Oh, Yeah! Here’s a song called My Girl.”
Justin grabbed this one by the horns and lassoed it. He brought the house down! As his nostalgic sway captivated the room, I suddenly found a saxophone in my lap with him on the other end of it! From there it was playful Temptation banter bouncing off the walls, the skins and keys. The ‘boys’ had it goin’ on Motown-style. In the end, the audience bellowed kudos to his style.
Young~
“Yeah, Yeah! That song goes out to my wife, Rachael! She’s my girl! So, what do you think of the fedoras and teal ties? Pretty good? Here’s somethin’ for you called You Make Me Smile!
Justin leaned in to the band~
“Slowly bring it up, guys.”
Justin set a rock solid groove, then volleyed it to percussionist Mark. Gagliano, who gifted a triple wow across the skins.
Justin leaned toward him~
“Let’s give it up for Mark on percussion!”
Young thwacked the soprano while inching back-and-forth across the arch of the makeshift marble stage. His charisma enveloped the restaurant. One more volley to percussionist Gagliano and keyboardist Dan curved every lip corner in the place.
Justin~
“Thank you!”
Young addressed the Boney James cover, Grand Central with an ‘Atten-HUT’ on his tenor sax. Wow! Mark’s percussion rhythm was incredible! Justin took the audience by storm! He was back to table-to-table serenades again. To call him a crowd pleaser is an understatement! He started an overhead clap and signaled keyboardist Daniel. Davis laid it out!
Justin~
“Mr. Daniel Davis on keyboards! Alright, we’re gonna keep it mellow for those eating dinner.” A muffled chuckled seeped through the room. “Thanks, so much for coming out!”
Justin was off-the-hook on soprano sax on this track. The overflowing crowd was enchanted by his contagious back-and-forth groove. Every torso in the place was swayin’!
Young~
“Thank you! That was a tune called G Bop! Alright, we have a very special song that goes out to Susan in the back! Here you go Susan! This one’s for you!” He repeated. “Alright, Susan, this one goes out for you! It’s a little tune. This one’s called Summertime.” Justin’s exuberance gave new meaning to hot, sultry and sexy. Mark’s rhythm clicked with ultra-cool Dan on keys, painting a Van Gogh of their beat.
Young~
“That one goes out to Susan! Are you having a great time? It’s our first time here! Have you guys checked out my website?! We’re gonna throw some Ringo Starr at ya! Are there any Ringo fans out there? Ringo, of the Beatles!”
Justin ripped into his soprano and took the tune Sixteen to the audience. Upbeat, upbeat, upbeat, fun, fun, fun were the next orders of his jazzy ‘business’ there!
Justin turned to the band~
“Good! It’s perfect!”
He wailed on his sax like there was no tomorrow!
Justin~
“Yeah! Good job, guys! Alright, we’re gonna do an original song. We’re still gonna stay mellow for those eating dinner. But stay with his for the second set, we’re gonna get funkier! This is a song titled, Love Handles. For all you Spyro Gyra fans out there, I got a chance to write this song with the keyboardist from Spyro Gyra!”
Just when I thought things could not possibly get better Justin kicked up the only untouched dust in the house. The marriage of Young’s vibe with the Mark’s metal triangle strike was heavenly. Daniel’s consistently-smooth keys created a finale that sent everyone there to the moon!
Justin~
“Thank you! Thank you, so much! So, once again let me reintroduce the band! Mark is on percussion and Daniel on keys in the back! So, how was your week-end this week-end? I’m currently getting my Masters at Pepperdine and spent the week-end in a three-day class! It was actually fun!” Justin introduced classmate Chandelle. “I’m happy to be here. We’re gonna be sellin’ CDs at the break. Second set we’re gonna pick up the pace a bit! How’s the food?”
Justin on soprano and percussionist Mark opened with a triple wow! As if that weren’t enough, Gagliano reinvented rhythm on his solo! He side kicked it to Justin for an off-the chain rendition of the Kenny G cover, Havana!
Justin~
“Thank you so much, Winery! We’re gonna take a quick break and we’ll be sellin’ CDs up here if you’re interested. Thank you so much!”
I can’t leave this narrative without mentioning the jam-packed second set. Justin Young took it up from the basement to the cellar, wine cellar that is! From Earth, Wind and Fire to Michael Jackson’s P.Y.T., these guys gave it up! Justin’s finale of JY Funky was just as JY funky as he! Justin pointed to the ceiling on the finale, signaling Daniel Davis to play the keyboard backward. The crowd went bonkers with Justin killin’ the soprano and Mark insane on percussion.
Justin turned to keyboardist Daniel Davis~
“There he is, yeah!”
Okay, guys, you tied for the award of JY Funkiest band in town! Thank you so much, Mr. Justin Young for inviting me to share this night with you and the band. We simply must get together more often, you, my pen and I!
© September 2010 Lynn M. Olson ALL RIGHTS RESERVED http://lynnjazz.wordpress.com/