Young Jackies began collaborating in the early 1970s, continuing to work together into the 21st century, creating sound, music and art installations. Our work is improvisational and atmospheric, set in an acoustic landscape with electronic embellishments and experimental leanings.

And yes, everything YJ does starts as an improvisational moment. Sometimes, it never goes past that moment.

It's obvious we like it that way. Raw, unedited moments of inspiration. Mentored in part by the likes of Ralph Towner, Zakir Hussein, Pierre Schaefer, Phillip Glass, Jack DeJohnette, Robert Fripp, Jaco Pastorius, Terje Rypdal, Bill Frisell, Gentle Giant, Pierre Bensusan, Brian Eno and more than this space allows.

The YJ collaboration has been taking place since our first meeting in a high school biology class in the early '70s.

 

 

YJ answers your questions:

Acoustic guitars?

Yes. Martin, Guild, Esteves, Cordoba and Yamaha to name a few. Still missed today -- J1's Epiphone Texan -- charred and ruined during one of our most revered YJ sessions, an early 90's recording from the Del Mar Woods Creativity Sanctuary.

Percussion?

Yes. We sport a fairly extensive array of things to shake, beat, rattle and bow. No tabla, cajon, waterphone, gourd marimba, kalimba or rain stick is left unmolested.

Keyboards?

From vintage synths by Moog or Roland to J1's old upright piano or even my old Wurlitzer Funmaker organ (which also managed to be set on fire!), keys are frequently in the mix.

Cube Van?

Yes. WHAT??!!! We have used trucks as objects of percussion, dating as far back as the early 1980's when a now-defunct produce truck's cargo box and tailgate were used for an extensive beating, captured to tape with an old Kudelski Nagra recorder.

If you like your listening experience to be unpredictable, organic and without a safety net, you have definitely come to the right place. Please join us on facebook for more YJ news and other information about our music available from Lilypad Records.