Richmond Sentinel is so appreciative to have the opportunity to sit down with so many talented and accomplished youth here in Richmond—and we’re just scratching the surface. When we sat down with today’s guest it did not take long to understand why he just received a full tuition scholarship at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.

Luke Young is one of the most talked about young trumpeters on the Canadian jazz scene, having recently placed third in the National Trumpet Competition jazz program. He's a Richmond, BC Palmer Secondary School student and recently performed with the famous Caili O’Doherty Quintet in a celebration of Black History Month. It was an event organized by the US Consulate General and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra's School of Music Big Band. 

RS: This is such a great story. I always love it when I can talk to young musicians because what you're doing right now seems beyond your years of age 19 and you’ve been playing since age 12. What was it you saw that attracted you to the trumpet?

LY: I just loved the old jazz recordings I heard on my iPad when I looked them up on YouTube. I started playing trumpet in elementary school jazz band, and I just fell in love with it.

RS: You and I were talking off camera, about people we love that plays the trumpet and that genre of music, who was it that you immediately connected with?

LY: My biggest hero coming up was Chet Baker. I just thought he had such a beautiful sound and beautiful lines. And I loved his voice as well. He has a beautiful singing voice. 

RS: He does. I guess they categorized him in that West Coast cool jazz sound and I'm sure you agree with this. As a big fan of jazz, I've always believed that jazz is the greatest art that America has given the rest of the world.

When you're learning to play the instrument, were you being influenced by a variety of people? For example, we talked about Louis and Miles, did you incorporate their style as you were learning?

LY: For sure. I think the jazz lineage is really important going from Louis, Miles Davis, Chet Baker up to the modern guys that we were talking about earlier. But I think it's important to have all aspects of the lineage so that you're a well-rounded Jazz player.

RS: I love to hear that from young people like yourself. It's like when I interview actors and they know the history of the character they portray. It’s heartbreaking when I talk to somebody in the arts that may not know who some of these greats are. On another note, you have been travelling a little bit with high school behind you now. Where did you spend the last year and where are you about to spend this next year?

LY: I spent the last year at the University of North Texas. It's about a half-hour drive from Dallas and I'm transferring this fall to the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a full tuition scholarship which I'm really grateful for.

RS: When you're studying, are you able to play gigs or is it strictly classroom studies.

LY: We do play gigs. The great part of being in a city like Boston, there are so many performance opportunities and you get to work with so many artists, not just at school, but around the city.

RS: That's fantastic. We should mention your performance at the Black History Month. Is this the event that you played with the famous Caili O’Doherty Quintet?

LY: It was. Actually, the US Consulate had an event at the VSL School of Music for Black History Month, and we were given the opportunity to play with some professional musicians they brought in from the United States.

RS: How long will you be in Boston?

LY: Three more years.

RS: Luke what are your plans after school?

LY: Hopefully I can perform a lot more and work a lot more in the States and maybe work on a masters degree. And there’s a dream of always wanting to live in New York.

RS: Yes, I think that's the center of music, it’s the jazz musician's dream. Your studies at school, how much of it is theory as opposed to physically playing music?

LY: I would say about half my courses are playing and half of my courses are more academic. So, I would study theory, ear training, music history and also have ensembles. There will be private lessons and I’ll have different labs. So, if I wanted to practice sight reading, I can sign up for a sight-reading lab. And there’s jam sessions which is really what jazz is so famous for. The great thing about Berklee is that there's so many people to jam with outside of class and that’s where the magic happens.

RS: I'm going to put you on the spot. You have your trumpet in your hand and I ask if you can play one song right now. What would you play?

LY: I would play my favorite ballad entitled Polka Dots and Moonbeams.

RS: Polka Dots, that’s a good song. Boy, you do know your music. Tell me Luke how does your family feel about all this?

LY: They've been really supportive and I'm really grateful to them for supporting me not only throughout high school but continuing to support me through my years at university.

RS: Is there any advice you would give to young people coming up that are attracted to the arts and want to play a musical instrument? What would you tell them?

LY: I would say, just go for it and have no regrets. And for musicians in high school looking to go into music, I would say you should just remember why you started playing the instrument and why you love playing the instrument and don't get too distracted with receiving awards or scholarships and all that.

RS: Well said and adding to that, know the history of your music that you choose to follow. We should mention too that you went to, R.C. Palmer Secondary School in Richmond.

He is one of the most talked about young trumpeters on the Canadian jazz scene. And we also should say recently placed third in the national trumpet competitions jazz program. We’re going to hear a lot of about this young man.

To watch the video interview in full go to richmondsentinel.ca/videos