Dennis Young

Dennis Young is best known professionally as the marimba/percussionist for the legendary early 80’s NYC band Liquid Liquid. This band had a major impact on hip-hop and dance music. Best known for there song “Cavern” which was sampled for the Grandmaster Flash mega-hit “White Lines." Dennis is a self-taught musician who started playing drums at an early age. His passion for music led to an exploration of other instruments that include marimba, percussion, keyboards, guitar, and vocals. He composes his own music that combines influences from rock, jazz, dance, folk, and world music. Since his days with Liquid Liquid, Dennis has released a number of solo releases, and has added his signature percussion to a number of recordings.

Over the past several years, Dennis has been moved to paint. There is a strong relationship between the music and the art that Dennis creates. Both rely heavily on spontaneity, rhythm, and texture. His work draws inspiration from a wide range of painters from Picasso and Van Gogh to Pollack and Jasper Johns. The paintings in this show also reflect an affinity for folk art. Images of tribal masks and abstract patterns collide in this body of work. These paintings seem to be connected to an ancient past of native tribes and cultures that exist in Dennis’s imagination.

Dennis Young will be showing his work along with Andrew Riss, September 10 thru September 26, 2011.