The latest Young & Rollins album, MOSAIC , is now available on Bolero Records Click here to order from your favorite store.
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ABOUT YOUNG & ROLLINS:
Through their internationally popular recordings, televised concerts, and live performances, Young & Rollins have established themselves as one of today's most innovative Latin guitar groups.
Dan Young and Lawson Rollins began collaborating after a chance meeting in a Washington, D.C., flamenco guitar shop in 1998. They came from different musical backgrounds - Lawson started out as a classically trained guitarist before moving into Latin American guitar styles, while Dan holds a degree in jazz from the New School University in New York City - but they immediately realized that they shared a similar musical vision. Both had a profound love of Latin music, particularly the Brazilian, salsa, and flamenco traditions, as well as an appreciation of the contemporary developments in those genres. But in their own work, they sought to move beyond the often confining boundaries of musical genres.
"Basically, we're striving to break down artificial barriers that have evolved in music. We've tried to open ourselves up to a diversity of influences and to explore new paths for creative expression," Dan explains. Lawson agrees: "Working together has really forced us to combine elements of our very different musical backgrounds and has resulted in a natural fusion process. Young & Rollins is really a hybrid of different styles that joins our enthusiasm for experimentation with a respect for different musical traditions."
Focusing on originality and experimentation, they perform only their own compositions, which draw upon an eclectic mixture of salsa, Latin jazz, blues, samba, bossa nova, flamenco, and classical styles. Through collaboration with several acclaimed musicians, they have recorded four successful studio albums as a five piece band, in which percussive Latin rhythms and bass lines highlight the fast-paced interplay between the two guitarists.
Their debut recording, SALSA FLAMENCA , on Baja/TSR Records, received immediate critical acclaim and achieved significant radio play both nationally and internationally, entering the Billboard top 25 charts shortly after its release in 2000. The Washington Post labeled their captivating mix of musical influences a "fiery fusion of styles" and declared, "Young and Rollins display a shocking breadth of skills on the album. Live, they are absolutely riveting." Young & Rollins second album of original music,SEVILLA , was heralded in Esquire magazine as "dynamic world music", while Jazziz magazine wrote: "They have done their homework, mastering an eclectic variety of styles that are combined in their compositions and improvisations - Latin jazz, blues, Flamenco, classical, even reggae."
In 2005, Young & Rollins joined with the successful label Bolero Records - home to legendary Nuevo flamenco guitarist Armik and a roster of other renowned artists - and released ESPERANZA , another stunning collection of original music that showcases the duos prowess as both composers and performers. Seductive guitar sounds with just the right amount of technical guitar virtuosity, writes 20th Century Guitar Magazine in its review of ESPERANZA, while the All Music Guide's review states, "Proof that music can be technically flawless without lacking wit or soul, ESPERANZA is Young & Rollins' best album to this point."
Following the success of ESPERANZA , Young & Rollins' latest album, MOSAIC , finds the duo in top form. The boldly melodic compositions on MOSAIC represent a new level of artistic achievement for the duo and exemplify their deep and multi-faceted creativity in a musical language that is impossible to categorize in a single genre. Veteran music critic, Jonathan Widran, describes MOSAIC as "uniformly engaging and brilliant" and writes, "As engaging as the tunes and the bright productions are, those who listen closely are bound to find themselves intoxicated by the intricate weavings of the two guitars."
In addition to their work in the studio, the Young & Rollins Quintet has performed at several international venues and festivals, including the prestigious Perth International Arts Festival in Australia, the New Zealand International Arts Festival, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Utah Arts Festival, the Salisbury Festival in England, and the Sydney Opera House . In concert, Young & Rollins unleash a bold virtuosity and improvisational flair that infuses each performance with uniqueness and spontaneity.
The music of Young & Rollins is appearing on a growing list of compilation albums alongside some of the world's most popular guitarists. The Baja/TSR Records release, Guitar Greats: The Best of New Flamenco, which spent 12 weeks in the Billboard top 25 charts, features music by Young & Rollins, Ottmar Liebert, Strunz & Farah, Armik, Oscar Lopez, and Jesse Cook. The Young & Rollins composition "Scorpion" is the lead track on the popular Narada/Virgin Records release, Tabu: Mondo Flamenco, which features music from many other world renowned guitarists including Tomatito, Chuscales, and Willie & Lobo. Young & Rollins is also featured on Guitar Greats Volume 2, Bolero Gypsies: New Flamenco, Volume 1 ,
Caravan , and the 2006 release, Bolero Gypsies: New Flamenco, Volume 2 .
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I came across Salsa Flamenco in the previously owned bin of a local CD store. What a real gem of a find. I like your playing so much that I purchased Esperanza.
I can't believe you asked to my friend...I AM SO HONORED! I've been listening to your cd "Salsa Flamenca" religiously since I bought it in a small shop on Belmont Shores, Long Beach, CA over a year ago. You're music is AWESOME! Hope I get to hear you play live one day...and by the way, you offer workshops to beginners? I'd take it for sure!!! Thanks for visiting my site as well. Best wishes to ya, Rose Mallare :o)
Dear Young & Rollins, love the music, thanks fo the add, honour is mine to be ur friend, love the samples and ur music, very talented and skilled with absloute harmony, nice work, all the best, love all ur albums, great songs, meaningful and touching. keep up the good work. ur music is inspiration to me.
sincerely, kamran
Hola! my friends Young & Rollins
It is a great honor to be your friend and es un placer to listen to two amazing guitarist and great performer.
Wishing you all the best and all the happiness in the world.
You are on my top 24 amigos from my heart,soul & spirit.
cheers,
Oscar Lopez(:
I finally got a chance to listen to the new CD while I was on the road with Incendio. Love the shred licks, harmonized sweep picking (or sweep PICADO!), and even the blues stuff!