Why Does Larry Young’s Unity Album Matter?
Larry Young's Unity album, released in 1966 on Blue Note Records, is widely considered a landmark in jazz and remains highly significant for several key reasons:
Redefining the Hammond B3 Organ: Before Unity, the Hammond B3 was primarily associated with soul jazz and a blues-drenched, "greasy" sound popularized by artists like Jimmy Smith. Larry Young, however, brought an entirely new perspective to the instrument, pushing it into the more adventurous and intellectually challenging realm of post-bop and modal jazz. He explored different voicings, harmonies, and textures, freeing the organ from its conventional role and demonstrating its potential for more sophisticated improvisation. This innovation led him to be hailed as "the John Coltrane of the organ."
A Meeting of Modernist Jazz Visionaries: The album features an exceptional quartet of musicians who were all at the forefront of modern jazz:
Larry Young (organ)
Woody Shaw (trumpet)
Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone)
Elvin Jones (drums) The title "Unity" perfectly encapsulates the synergy and collective vision achieved by these individualists, who were all "in the same frame of mood" despite their distinct styles.
Innovative Compositions and Interpretations: Unity showcases a blend of original compositions and inventive takes on standards:
Woody Shaw contributed three distinctive originals ("Zoltan," "The Moontrane," and "Beyond All Limits"), which quickly became jazz standards themselves. "The Moontrane," in particular, is dedicated to John Coltrane and reflects a deep understanding of his harmonic cycles.
Joe Henderson's "If" adds a bluesy, hard-swinging element.
Young's interpretation of Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Dream" (a duet with Elvin Jones) and the standard "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" further highlight his inventive approach to the instrument and material.
Embracing Post-Bop and Modal Harmony: Unity fully embraces the modal harmony and more open, freer structures favored by the rising post-bop movement. Young's playing, influenced by Coltrane and McCoy Tyner, uses sophisticated harmonies and polyrhythmic ideas, moving away from the more traditional blues-based organ playing.
Critical Acclaim and Lasting Influence: The album received widespread critical acclaim upon its release and continues to be highly regarded. Scott Yanow called it Larry Young's "finest recording," and Billboard Magazine deemed it a "sureshot for jazz fans." The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded it a rare "crown" and four-star rating, calling it "Quite simply a masterpiece." Its influence can be heard in subsequent jazz organists and even in elements of British prog-rock.
In essence, Unity matters because it revolutionized the role of the Hammond B3 organ in jazz, bringing it into a more modern, exploratory context, and captured a unique collaboration of some of the most forward-thinking musicians of the era.