Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Brandee Younger was born on July 1, 1983 in Hempstead, New York and grew up between her birth city and Uniondale, New York. She began her harp studies as a teen under the tutelage of Karen Strauss and continued with several harpists and bassist Nat Reeves. On to undergrad she earned degrees in Harp Performance and Music Business from The Hartt School of the University of Hartford. While at the latter she was mentored by Jackie McLean and the faculty of the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and African American Studies.

Off to New York University for grad school six months later with an impressive résumé, she opened for Slide Hampton as a member of Hartford-based collective The New Jazz Workshop. Younger then developed a working relationship with Grammy-nominated producer and artist Ryan Leslie and Grammy Award-winning producer Omen. Building upon that foundation, Younger began working with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane on a series of concerts honoring the music of his late mother, harpist Alice Coltrane.

Over time, Younger has built her career as an educator, concert curator, performer, and bandleader of the Brandee Younger Quartet. Her debut recording as a leader came with Prelude, released in 2011 with Dezron Douglas, E.J. Strickland and vocalist Niia. Since that auspicious moment she has performed with The Harlem Chamber Players, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Waterbury Symphony, Soulful Symphony, Ensemble Du Monde, Camerata New York and the Red Bull Artsehcro.

Younger is on the teaching artist faculty (harp) at New York University and The New School College of Performing Arts. She has taught at Adelphi University, Nassau Community College, The Hartt School Community Division at the University of Hartford and has lectured on both sides of the pond.  As a leader she has released 6 albums and two compilations since her debut album Prelude in 2011. As a sidewoman/contributor since 2006 she has 38 albums to her credit with folks like E. J. Strickland, Ravi Coltrane, Jeremy Pelt, Common, Robert Glasper, Jane Monheit, Christian McBroide, Lauryn Hill, Drake, and more.

Harpist Brandee Younger infuses classical, jazz, soul, and funk influences to the harp tradition pioneered by her predecessors and idols Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane. She continues to explore and expand her musical vocabulary.

More Posts: bandleader,educator,harp,history,instrumental,jazz,music