release date: 30.05.2025
Trumpeter/Composer Connor Young to self- release his new recording “Here’s to Now“. An ambitious project with the String Quartet included on the side of the regular jazz quartet he leads contrasts nicely two music universes and give him a chance to explore rich palette of textures that string are providing and add his own trumpet’s flavour to carefully constructed framework.
About the Recording
Here’s to Now is about embracing the present moment. It began with the Solas Suite, a four-movement piece inspired by Irish Gaelic words for light – Réalta (Star), Luí na Greine (Setting of the Sun), Oíche (Night), and Eiri (Sunrise). It grew into a larger reflection on how we experience the contrasts of life, moving from darkness to light, shadow to clarity.
The rhythm section John Dunlop (piano), Geza Carr (drums), and John Rivers (bass) anchors the music with each player bringing their own sound and personality. Alongside them, Ana Ruesink, Ben Lively, Jane Kittredge, and John Dunlop on strings provided the rich emotional layers, creating a conversation between the two worlds of jazz and classical influences.
The title track, Here’s to Now / Tate’s Song, is dedicated to my niece, Tate, born May 12, 2022. Her arrival has shown me what uninhibited, pure joy looks like. In her, I see a reminder of how life’s simplest moments can bring light, no matter the circumstances.
Thanks for listening! I hope “Here’s to Now” brings you to the present, wherever you are.
About Connor Young
Connor Young is a Vermont-born trumpeter, composer, songwriter, and educator. Music became a central part of his life at a young age, leading him to study Jazz Performance at McGill University in Montréal. Since graduating in 2018, he has been an active performer and collaborator, playing across Vermont in a variety of genres.
Connor has recorded two albums: Flight of the Starlings, a contemporary jazz record, and From Me to You, a self-recorded, folk-inspired album that reflects his growth as a songwriter and producer. Seven Days described From Me to You as “a masterful mélange of late-night musings and early-morning affirmations,” blending folk, early blues, and hot club-style jazz. Meanwhile, Flight of the Starlings was praised for its “thoughtful and ambitious arrangements,” capturing both modern and classic jazz influences.
In addition to performing, Connor is a dedicated educator, sharing his passion for music with the next generation. He is also a core part of Burlington’s jazz scene, playing in the house band every Wednesday at The 126, where he helps run the club’s weekly jam sessions. He was recently awarded a Creation Grant from the Vermont Arts Council to record another contemporary jazz album with his octet.
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Connor Young – “Here’s to Now”
self released digital album
Tracklist:
Side A
Solas Suite
Mvt.1 Realta
Mvt.2 Lui na Greine
Mvt.3 Oiche
Mantra
Side B
Inner Voices
Here’s to Now (Tate’s Song)
Winter Waltz
Into the Sunset
Line up:
Connor Young – Trumpet & Compositions
Michael Hartigan – Piano
John Rivers – Upright Bass
Geza Carr – Drums
Jacob Deva Racusin – Percussion
Strings:
Ben Lively – Violin
Jane Kittredge – Violin
Ana Ruesink – Viola
John Dunlop – Cello
Album Release Date: May 30th, 2025
Special Thanks
To the Vermont Arts Council for their Creation Grant. To the musicians for bringing this project to life. To Ben Collette, Fred Kevorkian, and Macaulay Lerman for their incredible work on the recording, mastering, and photography. To my family, for their endless support.