Brandee Younger - Brand New Life

May 10, 2023

Label: Impulse! Records, 2023

Personnel - Brandee Younger: harp, vocals; Rashaan Carter: bass; Junius Paul: bass; Makaya McCraven: drums, percussion // Guests - Meshell Ndegeocello: vocals; Joel Ross: vibraphone, xylophone; De’Sean Jones; flute; Pete Rock: additional production, drum programming; 9th Wonder: additional production, drum programming; Mumu Fresh: vocals; Yuri Popowycz: strings.

Brandee Younger has no rival in today’s jazz harp world. Her music is contemporary, often spiritual, and terrifically eclectic with oodles of crossover currents that include soul, funk and hip-hop. Brand New Life, the follow-up to Somewhere Different (Impulse!, 2021), is a tribute to one of her harp heroes, Dorothy Ashby, whose music she approaches here from new angles. With drummer extraordinaire Makaya McCraven as producer and fully operational behind the kit, this session presents 10 concise tracks - some of them featuring guest artists.

The title track, a slick R&B cut enriched with modulation, has Baltimore-based singer Mumu Fresh at the front; Ashby’s “Livin’ and Lovin’ in My Own Way” is infused with trippy hip-hop flavors by the hand of DJ/rapper Pete Rock; “Dust” - another piece by Ashby - features Meshell Ndegeocello on vocals over the jumpy feel of a good reggae tapestry; and “The Windmills of Your Mind” - which was composed by Michel Legrand but included on Ashby’s 1969 album Dorothy’s Harp - welcomes additional production and drum programming from 9th Wonder.

Yet, my favorite Ashby-related numbers here are the album opener, “You’re a Girl For One Man Only”, a previously unrecorded song where Younger underlines the beauty of the melody over a chord progression that induces peace of mind; and “Running Game”, a soothing modal exercise made lovable through technical perfection and spiritual emotion.

Another highlight is Younger’s “Moving Target”, which, developing in seven, fuses funk, jazz and soul elements. You can hear syncopated trap beats, flute by De’Sean Jones, and an enthusiastic vibraphone solo by Joel Ross. The disc closes with a magical harp-only rendition of “If it’s Magic”, one of the most beautiful ballads composed by Stevie Wonder.

Younger carries on to explore her instrument on each piece, delving into the implications of delicately plucking or freely sweeping the chosen strings to optimum effect.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - You’re a Girl For One Man Only ► 06 - Running Game ► 08 - Dust

Brandee Younger - Somewhere Different

August 24, 2021

Label: Impulse! Records, 2021

Personnel - Brandee Younger: harp; Rashaan Carter: electric and acoustic bass; Allan Mednard: drums, percussion; Marcus Gilmore: drums, drum programming; Tarriona “Tank” Ball: vocals; Dezron Douglas: electric bass (#1); Ron Carter: acoustic bass (#6,7); Maurice Brown: trumpet (#2); Chelsea Baratz: saxophone (#1); Anne Drummond: flute (#1).

The extremely gifted harpist Brandee Younger reaches a broad spectrum of emotions with Somewhere Different, a collection of eight new tunes featuring a strong supporting group and notable guests. The album - produced by the bassist Dezron Douglas, who also plays in the opening track - pacifies the spirit and stimulates the senses.

The follow-up to Soul Awakening, hailed as one of the best albums of 2019 for many outlets (including JazzTrail), marks her debut release on the emblematic Impulse! Records. It begins with “Reclamation”, which incorporates the groove of funk and the muscularity of rock in distinct sections. The melodies of saxophonist Chelsea Baratz and flutist Anne Drummond fly in glowing consonance during the theme, and both of them stretch with eloquence after Younger, who navigates the lush backdrop designed by Douglas and drummer Allan Mednard with ease and grace.

Penned by Douglas, “Spirit U Will” is a free-spirited ode to Alice Coltrane and an undisturbed source of light. While the vamping bass groove delivered by Rahsaan Carter flows according to the harmonic progression, the guest trumpeter Maurice Brown is called to action, adhering to the general spirituality and joy with a synthesizing effect.

Douglas and Younger joined compositional forces during Covid lockdown and the result was not only the stylized title track, where a Latin vitality coexists with jazz and classical idioms and a hip-hop beat, but also “Olivia Benson”, a colorful fusion of R&B and jazz named after the TV series Law & Order’s character. Creativity flows through Younger and the listener is pulled in by the bass groove of Ron Carter, who also puts his mark on the ballad “Beautiful is Black”. Younger composed the latter tune with him in mind, influenced by Alice Coltrane’s masterpiece Ptah The El Daoud, and taking in consideration the unfounded white prejudice that oppresses Black people.

A phenomenal smoothness is achieved with “Pretend”, which is elevated by the vocals and romance-related lyrics of Tarriona Ball from the New Orleans-based R&B group Tank And The Bangas.

Somewhere Different provides a sweeping, trance-like listening experience.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Reclamation ► 02 - Spirit U Will ► 06 - Black is Beautiful

Brandee Younger - Soul Awakening

June 3, 2019

Label: Self Produced, 2019

Personnel – Brandee Younger: harp; Ravi Coltrane: tenor saxophone; Chelsea Baratz: tenor saxophone; Stacy Dillard: soprano saxophone; Antoine Roney: tenor saxophone; Sean Jones: trumpet; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet; Corey Wilcox: trombone; Nicole Camacho: flute; Niia: vocals; Dezron Douglas: bass; E.J. Strickland: drums; Chris Beck: drums.

Harpist Brandee Younger and her cohorts find a perfect balance in the repertoire that composes Soul Awakening, her fourth album as a leader, which was completed in 2013 but only now sees the light of the day. The lineup includes longtime collaborators such as saxophonists Stacy Dillard and Chelsea Baratz, drummer E.J. Strickland, and bassist Dezron Douglas, who produced the album. Additionally, there’s a bunch of special guests assisting the spiritual perspective of the bandleader’s music, always conducted with the intent to inspire.

The album astounds in its overture with Douglas-penned “Soulris”, a spiritual modal journey founded on a formidable bass/drums groove (the drummer here is Chris Beck) and suffused with those positive vibes associated with John and Alice Coltrane. Their son, Ravi Coltrane, is the tenorist here, blowing some well-timed outside notes that take us over the moon. His ardent post-bop influence is noticeable again on Younger’s “Loves Prayer”, a triple-metered exercise reflecting balladic tendencies and delivered at a medium tempo. Even in chilled out mode, the bandleader continues the excellent comping work, elongating the already sumptuous and sometimes wriggling sheets of sound.

“Linda Lee”, whose title refers to Younger's mother, navigates in breezy modes, underlined by a smooth funk that seeks extra color in the interplay between Baratz and guest trumpeter Freddie Hendrix.

The colorful “Respected Destroyer” was many times included in the repertoire of New Orleans brass band The Soul Rebels. Following the modest beauty of Younger’s harp, we find Baratz sharp articulations on tenor, and then the crisp, clear tone and range of trumpeter Sean Jones. Everything takes place under Strickland’s hip-hop-flavored groove.

Harpists Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane are paid tribute with renditions of their own pieces, “Games” and “Blue Nile”, respectively. The former is a sultry R&B piece with bluesy and Latin insinuations, whereas the latter finishes the program in modal jazz fashion with tenor man Antoine Roney maneuvering in the foreground.

Vocalist Niia interprets Marvin Gaye’s “Save The Children” with a mix of cool intonation and soulful profundity. Depositing hopes in a better world, Younger included this tune as a homage to saxophone player Jimmy Greene’s late daughter, victimized in the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut. Expect deep, grooving electric bass lines, dreamy and crystalline harp moves, and an apt pulse with valid drum fills. At odds with this mood, the title track unrolls with uncompromising freedom. The bandleader designates Baratz, Dillard, and flutist Nicole Camacho as melodic colorists as she squeezes out a striking harmonization.

Brandee Younger puts her own stamp on these compositions and magical moments, going from inward to the vastness of space, are instantly tracked down. What the heck kept this splendid work on the shelf for so many years?

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Soulris ► 02 - Linda Lee ► 04 - Respected Destroyer