Harp Column Blogs: Brandee Younger

It seems like forever since I’ve posted –I have been out of touch.
Now, summer is half over already and most of the weeks have been harp-filled with performances, teaching, rehearsals and recording. While teaching at the Elyrica Harp & Flute Camp in Darien, CT, I’m taking this time away from playing the harp to reflect on the past few months, and look forward.

This winter, I took a trip along with harpist Megan Sesma, to Guatemala as part of the Guatemala Harp Project. We brought over supplies and music and worked extensively with the harp instructors and students at the National Conservatory of Music in Guatemala City and El Sitio Cultural Center in Antigua. Please write me if you'd like to learn more details about this trip. What a rewarding experience!

---

[soundcheck/rehearsal]
This summer has been eventful as well. I was honored to play two sold-out sets at the Bluenote Jazz Club with the legendary Jack Dejohnette, Ravi Coltrane & Kenny Davis. The night was to benefit Jazz Reach, an organization dedicated to teaching jazz through live performance, multi-media educational programs and informative clinics and master-classes for student musicians and ensembles. We played compositions by Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane and Jack Dejohnette. We also played an arrangement of Michael Jackson’s hit “Human Nature” that Ravi Coltrane made for quartet. (photo credit, Doug Kim)                

---

That brings me to the event that still has me in shock, some 4 weeks later: The death of Michael Jackson. It’s difficult to even say those words! He was a true talent with a strong purpose on this earth! Here’s one of my favorites. Michael Jackson singing the standard," All the Things You Are"

It seems everyone is performing MJ now. I’m just waiting to see some harp arrangements pop up!

:-)

---

We’re not even 2 full weeks into January (or we weren't when I wrote this ;) and looking forward makes it feel like the month is almost over! I rang in the New Year at the Harlem studio, Stadium Red, the homebase of the oh-so-talented producer, Omen (Be sure to get his upcoming album, "Be The Judge" and Not because I'm on it ;). What an awesome recording facility—the former studio of jazz pioneer, Ornette Coleman.

The weekend started out with a powerful meeting of the minds:

fellow harpistas, Robbin Gordon- Cartier, Rashida Black, and Riza Hequibal. Thanks Robbin, for all of your insight & music!! I had the opportunity to work with Ryan Leslie last weekend as well. We performed a beautiful song of his, “Golden Days”, duo-just harp and voice. It has been well over a year since I’ve last worked with him, and during that time, his career has soared! 150% deserved. He is definitely one of the hardest working men I know.

A few concerts and trips to Connecticut later, I’m really just looking forward to Guatemala! Next month, I will be taking a trip over with harpist, Megan Sesma of the United States Coast Guard Band to donate music and supplies, play, coach and teach other students & harpists. More to come on that later…

...Right now I think we're all looking forward to the same thing: Inauguration
In today's mail, out of the blue, was an invitation to Inauguration. What are the chances?

No matter how much research I do beforehand, every now and then, I end up facing a flight of stairs alone. I don't know if all harpists dread stairs, but I do! Many harpists in NYC don't mind, because they have harp movers to move their harp, but what about those jobs you have where you don't have a mover?

I approach the top or bottom of a staircase and one of two things happen: An overly anxious man runs and insists on helping me. But it's not really help...they want to do it themselves but don't realize how cumbersome (not heavy) the harp actually is, and they don't know how to take directions. My heart starts racing and I start running my mouth insisting that they stop. I can't sit watching my harp being thrown in the air! If I had a limitless supply of harps, it would be fine, but I don't. So, it's either that, or nobody offers to help. People watch and ignore. Both are equally frustrating. What's the solution? I wish I could carry my little brother in my back pocket because he's a very well trained harp mover! After all these years, I'm STILL working it out...