Gerry Youngman

Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Organ and Vocals

In his words…

“Since moving to Buffalo in 2006, I have been made to feel very welcome by the musical community in Buffalo. It is fun to play with these wonderfully competent musicians. We have a lot of fun.

Motown music is the music I grew up with. Its the type of music that connects many people to their roots and their past. There are always people singing along.

The Patti Parks band is special to me as I played with many of the original Bands who performed this music. This is a natural extension of my jazz career. Jazz came from the blues so in a way it is all blues.”

Background

Gerry is best known as the arranger, composer and organist in the Grammy-nominated soul jazz trio Paradigm Shift. He has 4 Recorded CDs with original music including over 40 songs he has written and recorded. He is signed to Nagel Heyer, one of Europe’s largest jazz record labels.

Gerry has played in Festivals all over the world including the Rochester Jazz Festival, Baltimore Jazz Festival, Pine Grill Reunion, Lewiston Jazz Festival, Montauk Music Festival, Jazz at Glenora, Burlington Jazz Festival, Markham Jazz Festival, Salzburg Jazz Urbst, Berlin Jazz Festival, Clarissa Street Reunion, Webster Jazz Night, Syracuse Jazz and Wine Festivals Street Jazz Festival and many more.

Born in Rochester, NY, Gerry started playing music at 5 years old with the accordion. He started playing trumpet at 8 years old and by high school he participated in yearly All State competitions and was selected to play in the arrangers holiday concert series under the direction of Manny Album and Phil Ramone. He studied in High School with Chuck Mangione. He received a full scholarship to Berklee School of music where he studied trumpet performance, arranging and composition.

Gerry has performed with Wycliffe Gordon, Marcus Printup, Eric Alexander, David Fathead Newman, Joe Locke, Joe Romano, Jimmy Ponder, Brian Carrott, Houston Person, Bobby Millitello, Chuck Mangione, Gerry Niewood, Urbie Green, Claudio Roditti, Mel Henderson, Sean Jefferson, The Temptations, Four Tops, Lou Rawls, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Lydia Pense, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Platters, Paul Butterfield, Stevie Wonder, and many more.

Gerry plays a Bach trumpet, Getzen Flugelhorn, and endorses Nord organs and Motion Sound amplifiers.

Current projects

Patti Parks Band
Paradigm Shift
R&B Soul Review
Conducts master classes at various schools and colleges throughout the area
Busy schedule of free lance jazz organ and trumpet performance and recording
Teaches private lessons for organ, trumpet, guitar, flute, piano and guitar

Videos

Interview with Gerry Part 1 and Part 2

Gerry with Paradigm Shift at the Apple Store

Gerry with Bobby Militello at Exodus to Jazz- Part 1 and Part 2