David Young is a stunningly good trumpet player. At the age of 20 he turned down Wynton Marsalis' invitation to join the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, preferring to finish college. And now, Northwestern University senior David Young has recorded his debut CD on Big Chicago Records, titled "Appassionata" due out early Spring 2001.

Young's diverse musical background includes both jazz and classical training. This music is energetic, impressionistic and passionate. The ten original tracks on the album tell a story of love lost and then found again. Young is joined on the disc by guest artists Hans Sturm (bass); Dennis Winslett (alto saxophone); Daniel Cray (piano); and Kobie Watkins (drums).

David Young's live performances have already received rave reviews. The Chicago Sun-Times' Andrew Patner called Young "never less than enthralling," while the Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich wrote, "To see this poised and gifted young man seduce an audience. . . was to witness the emergence of a potentially major jazz artist."

Young currently leads his own jazz quintet, New Republic, and is also a featured soloist with the Ensemble Stop-Time, and the New Black Music Repertory Ensemble. He holds the position of lead trumpet in Malachai Thompson's Africa Brass and with the Jazz Institute of Chicago's BeBop Brass.

Young also performs with William Russo's Chicago Jazz Ensemble, has appeared with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and has shared stages with the likes of Roy Hargrove, Marcus Roberts, and Danilo Perez (who told Young, "You can come on the road with me anytime you want, baby!"), among others. A two-time recipient of the Illinois Young Composer's Contest award, Young is president of the non-profit jazz education group Music for Little Ones.