Brandee Younger at Jazzfest Budapest at Eiffel Műhelyház

“No harpist has ever combined the modern traditions of the instrument—from the Salzedo school to Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane—with such power, elegance, and commitment.” – The New York Times

BRANDEE YOUNGER is revolutionizing the role of the harp in modern music. For the past fifteen years, she has worked tirelessly to transcend the boundaries and limitations traditionally placed on harpists. In 2022, she made history as the first Black woman ever nominated for a Grammy® Award in the category of Best Instrumental Composition. That same year, she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award, which she went on to win in 2024 in the category of Outstanding Jazz Album for her latest release, Brand New Life. As an artist, she constantly pushes the limits of her craft and has collaborated with cultural icons such as Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Pharoah Sanders, and Christian McBride....

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“No harpist has ever combined the modern traditions of the instrument—from the Salzedo school to Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane—with such power, elegance, and commitment.” – The New York Times

BRANDEE YOUNGER is revolutionizing the role of the harp in modern music. For the past fifteen years, she has worked tirelessly to transcend the boundaries and limitations traditionally placed on harpists. In 2022, she made history as the first Black woman ever nominated for a Grammy® Award in the category of Best Instrumental Composition. That same year, she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award, which she went on to win in 2024 in the category of Outstanding Jazz Album for her latest release, Brand New Life. As an artist, she constantly pushes the limits of her craft and has collaborated with cultural icons such as Lauryn Hill, John Legend, Pharoah Sanders, and Christian McBride.

Her original composition “Hortense” was featured in the Netflix concert documentary Beyoncé: Homecoming, and in 2019, Brandee was chosen to perform her own piece in Quincy Jones and Steve McQueen’s Soundtrack of America production. She is frequently acknowledged for honoring the legacy of the women who paved the way for the harp to emerge as a clear and distinctive voice in both jazz and popular music. Her latest album, Brand New Life, builds upon her already rich body of work and further solidifies the harp’s place in pop culture. As the album’s title suggests, Brand New Life seeks new directions—artistically, personally, politically, and spiritually. Younger’s music is filled with purpose and reverence for tradition, drawing in new and broader audiences for the harp like never before.

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