Biography
Noah Young is a New Orleans-based bassist, composer, and founding member of the acclaimed jazz/funk outfit Naughty Professor. Born in Vermont in 1991, Young began learning bass guitar at age 12 and moved to New Orleans in 2010 at age 19 to study with local music legends. Over the past 13+ years, he has established himself as one of the most sought-after bassists in New Orleans, earning nominations for "Best Bassist" from OffBeat Magazine in 2017, 2022, and 2023. His work spans collaborations with diverse artists including The Revivalists, Big Freedia, Marcus King, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, and many others, while maintaining a prolific touring schedule that has taken him across North America and Europe.
Young's musical identity is characterized by his fusion of New Orleans funk with adventurous compositional voice and innovative sound. Since 2015, he has led the Noah Young Band, a funk/jazz/fusion project that showcases his original compositions and has released multiple albums. The band features some of New Orleans' most talented young players and maintains a weekly Sunday night residency at Bacchanal Wine Bar. His 2019 album "Splinter" received airplay on local stations and featured the single "Six Million Ways to Die" on Spotify's official State of Jazz playlist. In 2023, Young recorded his most personal and expansive work to date, the self-titled album "Noah," produced by Grammy Award-winning drummer and producer Jamison Ross, which was released in September 2025.
Young's performances have taken him to prestigious venues and festivals worldwide, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, FIMU in Belfort France, Rudy's Jazz Room in Nashville, and the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington, Vermont. His musical approach is described as moving in multiple directions simultaneously—blending post-bop sensibilities, acid-jazz elements, and possessed fusion—conducted in an almost orchestral fashion. Critics have noted that his modern NOLA jazz sound represents a unique synthesis of styles that is both deeply familiar and refreshingly forward-thinking.
Fun Facts
- Young performed on Jam Cruise 2018 in the middle of the ocean, showcasing his versatility as a touring musician.
- His 2019 album 'Splinter' single 'Six Million Ways to Die' was featured on Spotify's official State of Jazz playlist, earning over 20,000 streams.
- The Noah Young Band maintains a weekly Sunday night residency at Bacchanal Wine Bar in New Orleans, bringing fresh interpretations and dynamic energy to one of the city's most beloved listening rooms.
- Young has toured internationally with Naughty Professor across China, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, and Canada, establishing himself as a globally recognized artist.
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- George Porter Jr. - Local New Orleans music legend and mentor (Studied with and performed alongside) [2010-present]
- Various New Orleans Music Legends - Young moved to New Orleans specifically to study with a 'who's who' of local music legends (Musical education and development) [2010-present]
Key Collaborators
- Naughty Professor - Founding member of this acclaimed jazz/funk band (Band performances and recordings) [2010-present]
- The Revivalists - Frequent collaborator and performer (Live performances and recordings) [2010-present]
- Jamison Ross - Grammy Award-winning producer and collaborator on recent album (Producer of 'Noah' album (2025)) [2023-2025]
- Big Freedia - Musical collaborator (Live performances and recordings) [2010-present]
- Marcus King - Musical collaborator (Live performances and recordings) [2010-present]
- Ivan Neville - Musical collaborator (Live performances and recordings) [2010-present]
- David Shaw - Consistent collaborator with regular performances (Ongoing performances) [2010-present]
- Noah Young Band - Leader of his own funk/jazz/fusion project (Albums: 'Splinter' (2019), 'Noah' (2025)) [2015-present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Kerry Park | 2017-06-01 | Album |
| All in My Head | 2014-08-26 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Can't Help Falling in Love (Can't Help Falling in Love)
- Where (Where)
- The Dance - Acoustic (The Dance - Acoustic)
- Coffee Shop (Acoustic) (Coffee Shop (Acoustic))
- Kerry Park (Acoustic) (Kerry Park)
- Attention (Acoustic) (Attention (Acoustic))
- Never Said No (Kerry Park)
- Lullaby (Kerry Park)
- Kerry Park (Kerry Park)
- Issues (feat. Tayler Lanning) (Issues (feat. Tayler Lanning))
External Links
- Spotify
- [Wikipedia](Not found)
References
Heard on WWOZ
Noah Young has been played 3 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28, 2025 | 17:43 | Fly On The Wallfrom Noah | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Charles Burchell | |
| Oct 13, 2025 | 23:08 | Nightcrawler | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman | |
| Sep 15, 2025 | 23:11 | Fly On The Wall | Kitchen Sinkw/ Derrick Freeman |