The leading voice of contemporary harpists, a fearless and innovative breaker of boundaries, the American composer Brandee Younger will feature the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra at Helsinki Festival’s Huvila tent. The harpist has only been seen in Finland once before, when she charmed with her trio at the Flow Festival in 2022.
Brandee Younger (b. 1983) has elevated the harp to a convincing role in contemporary jazz. In her music, she combines jazz, classical, soul, funk and hip-hop in a new way and in new contexts, strengthening the place of the harp in pop music. Younger made history in 2022 when she became the first black female solo artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition with her song Beautiful Is Black....
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The leading voice of contemporary harpists, a fearless and innovative breaker of boundaries, the American composer Brandee Younger will feature the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra at Helsinki Festival’s Huvila tent. The harpist has only been seen in Finland once before, when she charmed with her trio at the Flow Festival in 2022.
Brandee Younger (b. 1983) has elevated the harp to a convincing role in contemporary jazz. In her music, she combines jazz, classical, soul, funk and hip-hop in a new way and in new contexts, strengthening the place of the harp in pop music. Younger made history in 2022 when she became the first black female solo artist to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition with her song Beautiful Is Black.
Recording for the renowned Impulse! label, Younger has been working non-stop for the past fifteen years to stretch the limits and possibilities of her instrument. Brandee Younger is not only a composer and performer, but also a teacher and concert curator.
Having released seven albums of her own, Younger has performed and recorded with numerous jazz, soul and hip hop greats such as Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette, Drake, Charlie Haden, Common, John Legend, Moses Sumney, The Roots, Stevie Wonder and Lauryn Hill. Younger's music was also featured in Beyoncé's Homecoming tour film. www.brandeeyounger.com
At the Huvila, Brandee Younger's music is arranged for the first time for a big ensemble, as her compositions are tailored for the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. The concert is conducted by Ed Partyka.
“No harpist thus far has been more capable of combining all of the modern harp traditions – from Salzedo, through Dorothy Ashby, through Alice Coltrane – with such strength, grace and commitment.” – The New York Times
“Younger has almost single-handedly made a persuasive argument for the harp’s role in contemporary jazz…” – The New York Times
Nykyharpistien johtava ääni, peloton ja innovatiivinen rajojen rikkoja, yhdysvaltalainen säveltäjä Brandee Younger saapuu juhlaviikkojen Huvilaan UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestran solistina. Harpisti on nähty Suomessa vain kerran aiemmin, kun hän hurmasi trionsa kanssa Flow Festivalilla v. 2022.
Brandee Younger (s. 1983) on lähes yksin nostanut harpun vakuuttavaan rooliin nykyjazzissa. Hän yhdistelee musiikissaan jazzia, klassista, soulia, funkia ja hiphopia uudella tavalla ja uusissa yhteyksissä, vahvistaen harpun paikkaa popmusiikissa. Younger teki historiaa v. 2022, kun hänestä tuli ensimmäinen musta naissooloartisti, joka oli ehdolla parhaan instrumentaalisävellyksen Grammy-palkinnon saajaksi kappaleellaan Beautiful Is Black.
Maineikkaalle Impulse!-levy-yhtiölle levyttävä Younger on viimeisten viidentoista vuoden aikana työskennellyt taukoamatta venyttääkseen soittimensa rajoja ja mahdollisuuksia. Brandee Younger ei ole pelkkä säveltäjä ja esiintyjä, vaan myös opettaja ja konserttikuraattori.
Seitsemän omaa albumia julkaissut Younger on esiintynyt ja levyttänyt lukuisten jazzin, soulin ja hip hopin suuruuksien kanssa kuten Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette, Drake, Charlie Haden, Common, John Legend, Moses Sumney, The Roots, Stevie Wonder ja Lauryn Hill. Youngerin musiikkia kuultiin myös Beyoncén Homecoming-kiertue-elokuvassa. www.brandeeyounger.com
Huvilassa Brandee Youngerin musiikki taipuu ensimmäistä kertaa isolle big band -kokoonpanolle, kun hänen sävellyksensä räätälöidään tätä iltaa varten UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestralle. Yhteiskonsertin johtaa kapellimestari Ed Partyka.
Konsertin kesto n. 75 min.
“No harpist thus far has been more capable of combining all of the modern harp traditions – from Salzedo, through Dorothy Ashby, through Alice Coltrane – with such strength, grace and commitment.” – The New York Times
“Younger has almost single-handedly made a persuasive argument for the harp’s role in contemporary jazz…” – The New York Times
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