Graham Young

Graham started off on the violin aged 6 quickly progressing through the grades with little effort. “I found that I could turn up and sight read everything and still be the ahead of everyone else in the lesson. I didn’t really take it seriously because the repertoire didn’t appeal and I had more fun improvising.” Later piano lessons commenced and although that instrument was to prove to have a lasting hold on Graham it was when he got his first guitar aged 13 that everything changed. “Straight away I knew that my future lay with this instrument.” An intense practice schedule ensued After leaving the Leeds of College Music Graham recorded for various bands and tours of the U.K. and Europe followed including support slots for the likes of rock legends UFO and Wishbone Ash. “It was an amazing experience, I suddenly found myself playing in front of big audiences” Growing increasingly disillusioned with rock Graham started a classical music degree at the University of Leeds but this time on the piano. Specialising in composition he gained experience conducting ensembles and had his work played by various groups including the Allegri Quartet. After leaving university more recording and touring ensued including several critically acclaimed releases for the group P090 on the Cyclops label, reviewers always making mentioning of Graham’s stunning guitar work. Around this time Graham started to gravitate towards the world of Jazz and served his tutelage with Grammy nominated drummer John Shepard of Acoustic Alchemy. Over time the inevitable happened and Graham found himself at the centre of a new outfit christened “The Urban Jazz Guerrillas”. The new groove fuelled band gigged incessantly around Leeds’ burgeoning bar scene as well as various festivals throughout the area gaining a reputation as one of Leeds’ best live bands. Since then he has focussed writing for the trio format. Graham also runs a very busy private teaching practice as well as giving workshops.

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