Event Description
World-renowned harpist Brandee Younger has been a frequent collaborator with members of BRM, including in our raga infused tribute to John and Alice Coltrane. In this workshop/discussion/performance she will discuss her influences including Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, her approach to improvisation and working with raga musicians, as well as demonstrate and perform a few pieces.
About Brandee
Harpist Brandee Younger defies genres as a classically-trained musician playing in the avant-garde tradition of her musical predecessors Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. Ms. Younger delivers a fresh take on the instrument as an educator, curator, solo artist, and leader of her own ensemble, The Brandee Younger Quartet. She has produced an impressive body of work since the 2011 debut of her Prelude EP. Her discography includes Brandee Younger Live @ The Breeding Ground, Bluenote Records and Revive Music’s 2015 album Supreme Sonacy Vol. 1, the critically-acclaimed 2016 album Wax & Wane, and a 2018 appearance as a featured artist on the Impulse tribute to The Beatles titled A Day in the Life: Impressions of Pepper. Her most recent album Soul Awakening is the first full-length record by Younger.
Known for expressive interpretations of traditional harp repertoire as well as her continued work with a diverse cross-section of musical talents, Ms. Younger is widely recognized as a creative linchpin whose nuanced presence and willingness to push boundaries have made her irreplaceable on record and in performance. She has shared the stage with jazz leaders and popular hip-hop and r&b titans including Ravi Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Jack Dejohnette, Reggie Workman, Common, Maxwell, John Legend, and Lauryn Hill. Most recently, her original composition “Hortense” was featured in the documentary “Homecoming” by Beyoncé Knowles. As well versed in performance art as she is the art of creative risk-taking, Brandee Younger challenges commonly-held notions in her quest to ”make the harp a more relevant force in today’s music.” Ms. Younger’s ability to seamlessly inject the harp into arrangements and venues where it has historically been overlooked is a testament to her deep love for and exemplary command of the instrument.