The Vermont Jazz Center is thrilled to present harpist Brandee Younger on January 18, 2025. She will perform with her working trio: Rashaan Carter on electric and acoustic basses and Allan Mednard on drums. Many VJC aficionados were moved by Younger’s appearance with Makaya McCraven’s ensemble last February. Since then, she has been on the move, releasing a solo harp EP and touring across London, Germany, Brooklyn, the Netherlands, Portugal, Australia, Brussels, and beyond.
Initially, listeners might not associate the harp with jazz music, which makes this concert particularly significant. Brandee Younger is passionate about the harp’s role in jazz tradition, aiming to challenge common misconceptions. In an online short, she urges listeners to move beyond the stereotype of associating her instrument with “naked baby angels.” Her mission is to convey the harp’s depth and importance, pushing past standard clichés. Younger tirelessly promotes the music of Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, two jazz harpists who have profoundly influenced her and whose music she continues to revisit.
Younger’s dedication to the harp extends to her involvement with the American Harp Association (AHA), where she serves as co-president of one of its board chapters and helps raise funds. In 2017, she contributed an article to the AHA Journal titled Alice Coltrane: The Harpist and Her Legacy. In the essay, Younger illustrates Alice Coltrane’s enduring influence, both musically and spiritually. She recounts hearing Coltrane’s Blue Nile for the first time and how it served as a stepping stone to deeper connections. She recalls performing at Coltrane’s 2007 memorial service alongside Charlie Haden and Geri Allen, a memory she cherishes.
Younger continues to consider Coltrane’s son, Ravi, a mentor. She writes,
“Over the years, he has shared many wonderful stories about his mother and his upbringing. Well aware of his father’s great admiration for Carlos Salzedo, Ravi asked if I could integrate Alice’s spiritual style, Dorothy Ashby’s straight-ahead style, and Salzedo’s classical style into my playing. In working toward this idea, my style evolved, and I am especially grateful for Ravi’s patience. Coming from a classical background, every rehearsal and performance was, and still is, a steep learning curve.”
In 2011, Younger visited Alice Coltrane’s ashram and experienced firsthand the fusion of gospel, bebop, and Indian classical traditions. This inspired her to incorporate Coltrane’s compositions into her repertoire, including Blue Nile, which she featured on her 2019 album Soul Awakening. Her connection to Coltrane’s legacy deepened through playing on Coltrane’s harp and receiving an ornate gift from John Coltrane. Younger states,
“Every concert I play pays tribute to Alice Coltrane’s legacy... The spirit of her music felt more powerful than anything technical or on paper. It was a force of selflessness and humility, shaping my approach to music.”
Younger’s flexibility has connected her to artists across genres, from Pete Rock to Beyoncé. In a 2023 interview with Tamron Hall, she reflected,
“Even as a kid, I wanted to play in other styles. My mom would say, ‘Play what you’ve been practicing but also something we’ll recognize.’ Over time, I learned to blend those worlds.”
Today, Younger is recognized across classical, jazz, and hip-hop genres. She has released eight albums as a leader and appeared on over 100 albums as a side-person. A 2022 Grammy nominee for Best Instrumental Composition, she won a 2024 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album for Brand New Life. She has collaborated with artists such as Lizz Wright, Common, Lauryn Hill, and Christian McBride, and was featured in Beyoncé’s Netflix documentary Homecoming. Younger also serves on the faculty at New York University and The New School.
