BRATTLEBORO-Initially, listeners might not associate the harp with jazz music, which is one of the reasons this concert is so significant. Brandee Younger is passionate about the harp's role in the jazz tradition, and one of her goals is to correct our misconceptions.
Younger will be performing on Saturday, Jan. 18, with her working trio, which includes 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 consistently on the move: releasing a solo harp EP and touring London, Germany, Brooklyn, the Netherlands, Portugal, Australia, Brussels, and beyond.
In an online short, Younger pulls us away from the generalization of associating her instrument with "naked baby angels." Her mission is to convey the depth of the harp's importance and get beyond standard clichés.
She is a tireless promoter of the music of Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, two jazz harpists who influenced her the most and whose music she continuously revisits.
Younger's love for music and dedication to the harp extends to her involvement with the American Harp Society (AHS), where she helps raise funds and serves as the co-president of one of its board chapters. In 2018, she presented an article in the American Harp Journal titled: "Alice Coltrane: The Harpist and Her Legacy."
In that essay, Younger illustrates the tremendous impact Alice Coltrane continues to impart on her life, not just musically, but also as a spiritual role model. She wrote about hearing Coltrane's "Blue Nile" for the first time, illuminating how that piece became a stepping stone that led to a pathway of profound connections.
Younger recounts the experience of being invited by Ravi Coltrane to perform at his mother's 2007 memorial service and the indelible memory of playing a tribute to her with Charlie Haden and Geri Allen. Ravi Coltrane remains a friendly mentor.
"Over the years, he shared many wonderful stories about his mother and his upbringing," Younger wrote. "Well aware of his father's great admiration of Carlos Salzedo, Ravi asked if I could combine several different elements into my playing: Alice's spiritual style, Dorothy Ashby's straight-ahead style, and Salzedo's classical style. In working to achieve this musical idea, my playing grew in accordance and my style began to change.
"I am especially appreciative of Ravi's patience with me over the years. Coming from a background of studying purely classical music, every single rehearsal and performance was, and still is today, a steep learning curve."
Younger visited Alice Coltrane's ashram in 2011 and experienced "first-hand how the gospel and bebop elements intertwined with the Indian classical tradition."
"As I began to work more as a leader of my own ensemble, I incorporated Alice Coltrane's compositions into my repertoire," she wrote.
One of those pieces is "Blue Nile," which Younger presented on her 2019 album Soul Awakening. Other connections with Coltrane's legacy include an invitation to play on Alice's harp, and an ornate gift from Alice's husband, John Coltrane.
"Every concert that I play pays tribute to Alice Coltrane's legacy. The spirit of her music felt more powerful than anything technical or on paper," Younger wrote. "It was more powerful than any industry standard and to me, it came from a place of selflessness and humility.
"This influence has helped me immensely over the years in my approach to playing the harp and interpreting music. It has allowed me to be flexible and to resist conforming to a particular genre or style."
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Younger's flexibility is her calling card which connects her with musicians as disparate from the jazz world as Pete Rock and Beyoncé. Younger has recalled "even as a kid I wanted to play others' styles. For a recital my mom would say, 'Play what you've been practicing but also [play] something we'll recognize.' Over time I became comfortable about blending those worlds but it took a long time to put things together, I felt like I was living a double life."
Today, Younger is recognized across many genres, from classical to hip-hop. She has released eight albums as a leader and appears on more than 100 albums as a side person.
In 2022, she was nominated for a Grammy Award (Best Instrumental Composition) and is the winner of a 2024 NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Jazz Album for her album Brand New Life.
Younger has made it a point to reach out to new audiences, exposing a multigenerational cadre of listeners to her compelling sound and concept. She is also an in-demand educator who serves on the faculty at New York University's Steinhardt School and The New School College of Performing Arts.
The VJC is grateful for the generosity of long-term supporter Diana Bingham for this concert's sponsorship. Diana's enduring friendship inspires us to continue to reach out to younger audiences. All performances at the VJC are subsidized by generous sponsorships to make ticket prices affordable.
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Tickets for the Brandee Younger Trio at the Vermont Jazz Center are $25 general admission (additional donations encouraged) and are available at vtjazz.org or by email at [email protected]. Call the Jazz Center at 802-254-9088 for tickets (ext. 1) or to arrange for access to accommodate mobility issues.
The concert will be streamed live. We ask those tuning in to donate to support the costs of providing world-class music and educational programs at the VJC. Full access to the livestream can be found on our website and our Facebook page.
Eugene Uman is director of the Vermont Jazz Center. The Commons' Deeper Dive column gives artists, arts organizations, and other nonprofits elbow room to write in first person and/or be unabashedly opinionated, passionate and analytical about their own creative work and events.
This Arts column was submitted to The Commons.