Harp Column Blogs: Brandee Younger

What a busy summer! No complaints, except, I have not had much time to blog :) This spring & summer has been full of great happenings.  I recorded my debut EP entitled "Prelude" with my amazing colleagues!  It's pretty incredible how music gets shared from blog to blog, site to site & to radio stations...it even landed over in Germany.  Who knew Mercedes Benz had a music blog? Not me.

I was fortunate to work as the performing artist in residence at the Cicily Tyson School of Performing Arts this spring.  Working with Robbin Gordon Cartier and her children, really brightened up my spirits.  Graduation day was a beautiful lead into the summer...that is almost over already.I taught at 2 really amazing harp camps:  The Elyrica Flute & Harp Camp in Ridgefield, Ct and CVHI in Simsbury, Ct.   At Elyrica, we had a chat about the many career options as a harpist.  Flutist Nicole Camacho & I also switched instruments and played a duet during the talent show.  I played flute and she played harp. We sounded awful, but it's the spirit that counts! At CVHI, we had a wonderful workshop with Ray Pool!  I learned so much and am playing out of his books now.  CVHI was also my very first time attending a sleep away camp. In fact, they made fun of me and called me their "city mouse".  I' am not a country girl!  It was so good for me!  Both camps had the most incredible students.  I look forward to summers, where I get the chance to work with different students of all levels and ages.

In June, I was honored to play a concert at Bethany Baptist Church as part of their Jazz Vespers series. My quartet played concert of Alice Coltrane's music and it featured Marcus Strickland on tenor sax, McClenty Hunter on drums, Eric Wheeler on bass -- and yours truly.  My uncle even came from Atlanta, and sat in on a couple of songs with us!  Before the concert, I was on a panel led by pianist and scholar Courtney Bryan.  We talked about the role of spirit in music performance and composition.  It was a great night had by all.In July, I was thrilled to play with the Miguel Atwood Ferguson Ensemble at Harlem Stage -- if you don't know about Miguel, definitely check him out on youtube or bandcamp! He writes the most ridiculous compositions and arrangements.  I am happy Los Angeles let NYC borrow him for a day :)  Here are a few photos & video from that concert, that featured Jose James, Pharoahe Monch & Zap Momma.  It also received a wonderful write-up in the NY Times.
Daily Merger Photos
Revivalist Photos
New York Times

There were so many great concerts right here in NYC this month!  I played an educational concert for the most wonderful, well behaved students at the Harbor Conservatory in Harlem, and played for Make Music New York!  That's the one day where there is music ALL DAY, EVERYWHERE in New York City.  So much fun!  My jazz trio played in quite a few places and I played a few solo concerts as well.

I got to play a concert of French music with the Harlem Chamber Players.   We performed Ravel's Introduction & Allegro, Ibert's Deux Interludes and En'tracte, and also, Faure's Impromptu for solo harp.  It was so much fun that we got to play an abbreviated program at the Dance Theater of Harlem.

In the midst of playing concerts and harp camping and teaching, I did manage to have a harp social. Yup!  The kids and I got together in the back yard, grilled food, ate fruit and played games.   They even volunteered to play...completely ON THEIR OWN. No force, no pressure - I simply had a harp out in the back yard :)

I know that this post has no photos, and that makes it BORING, but I was happy to be stuck here getting my hair braided, to be able to blog for a moment!  I am currently preparing for a trip to LA, where I'll be playing in a 3 harp concert of the spiritual music of Alice Coltrane.  I'll be there for the week and have been transcribing and notating music (I am finally forced to use Finale!) for the past few weeks.  Upon my return, I'll be getting right back into the swing of things with the school year in session!

Enough rambling.  I'm looking forward to writing from Cali, and hearing about your summer!

 XOXO  

I was very happy to be a part of this radio show, "Suga in My Bowl" on 99.5 wbai.  Joyce hooked the show up with some wonderful, wonderful music! She played some Alice Coltrane, Common, some of my music and lots of amazing and not often heard, Dorothy Ashby.

Click to DOWNLOAD RADIO SHOW but hurry if you want it because I think the link expires on 3/15 :-)

Joyce played some great D Ashby, and we called out Common & Kanye West because the liner notes to "Finding Forever" read that track 2 sampled Ashby's "The Windmills of Your Mind" but it's really "By the Time I Get to Phoenix".  What a mistake!  She played Common's record and the 2 Ashby records all back to back, lol.  I really like that she played Ashby's lesser known recordings.  Not just ones of her as a leader, but the ones where she was a session musician.  Dorothy Ashby really recorded on a TON of sessions when she moved to LA!  Anyway, hope you enjoy!!



And stay tuned to WBAI where you can also stream it live, online!  

Mahalia Jackson & Harpo Marx!  This is such a beautiful duet.  Listen—>> Guardian Angels

Harpo apparently had Mahalia Jackson cracking up before this Columbia Records session in 1956.  Not surprising