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.
Duration about 75 minutes.
The evening begins with one of Finland’s most internationally-successful folk musicians, the kantele artist, multi-instrumentalist and singer Maija Kauhanen.
“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