Larry Young started as a jazz organist - influenced by blues and gospel - but later progressed -unlike a lot of his organ contemporaries- to a more experimental and jazz fusion style.

His early 1960’s albums “Groove Street” and “Testifying” amongst others- established his soul jazz grooving style - augmented by jazz greats Grant Green on guitar and Elvin Jones on drums.

Check out “Unity” from 1966 - its hard bop -but with increasing improvisation. Young is assisted by Woody Shaw on trumpet (who wrote half the album) and Joe Henderson on tenor sax.

This album in turn leads the way to Young playing on the Miles Davis classic “Bitches Brew” in 1969.

Young also collaborated with Jimi Hendrix and was a member of drummer Tony Williams’ Lifetime jazz fusion group.

In 1973 Young recorded the overlooked world music influenced “Lawrence of Newark” - innovative for the time by fusing middle eastern elements and melodies.

You could say it was ahead of its time and has never been widely available.

“Larry Young's Fuel,” (1975) and “Spaceball” (1976) are more “mainstream” jazz fusion -as if an experimental genre can ever be mainstream!

However - there is a jazz funk “in the pocket” feel with synths and electric piano.

Young tragically died aged 38 in 1978 from untreated pneumonia.

Although not a household name in comparison to other jazz organists such as Jimmy Smith - nonetheless Larry Young’s influence reaches far and into other equally experimental genres.

Keith Emerson of the Nice and prog rock legends ELP - cited Larry Young as an influence for example.

Larry Young achieved great things in his comparatively short career - but his recordings leave an indelible imprint for those who seek experimentation and push boundaries.

More info here:

https://www.discogs.com/artist/29984-Larry-Young