Brandee Younger

Biography

Brandee Younger (born July 1, 1983) is an American harpist, composer, and educator.

Early life and education

Younger was born and raised in Hempstead, New York. She developed an early interest in music, leading her to pursue undergraduate degrees in Harp Performance and Music Management at The Hartt School of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut. She later earned a Master of Music degree at New York University (NYU) Steinhardt.

2006–2015: Early career and collaborations

Throughout her early career, Younger worked with a diverse range of artists across genres, including Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette, Common, John Legend, Cassie, The Roots, and Lauryn Hill. Her work helped redefine the role of the harp in contemporary jazz, hip-hop, and popular music.
Younger made her public debut in 2007 as a grad student at NYU, when saxophonist Ravi Coltrane enlisted the then 23-year-old to participate in the memorial service for his mother Alice.

2016–2019: Solo projects and recognition

In 2016, Younger released Wax & Wane, showcasing her innovative approach to the harp. This was followed by Soul Awakening in 2019, which was met with critical acclaim for blending jazz, soul, and spiritual influences.
In 2019, Younger's original composition "Hortense" was featured Beyoncé's Netflix concert documentary Homecoming. The recording used was from an NPR Music Field recording released in 2013.

2020–present: Major label debut and historic achievements

In 2020, Younger released Force Majeure, a duo album with bassist Dezron Douglas recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown, praised for its intimacy and spontaneity.
Her major label debut, Somewhere Different, arrived in 2021 via Impulse! Records. The album earned her a 2022 Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Composition for "Beautiful Is Black," making her the first Black woman nominated in that category.
In 2023, she released Brand New Life, an album paying tribute to harpist Dorothy Ashby, while continuing to push the instrument forward. The album won the 2024 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album.
Younger's contributions have cemented her as a leading force in contemporary jazz, known for her ability to bridge genres and expand the possibilities of the harp.

Educational contributions

Younger serves on the teaching artist faculty at New York University and The New School College of Performing Arts. She has conducted master classes and residencies at institutions such as Howard University, University of Michigan, Berklee College of Music, Tulane University, and Princeton University.

Awards and honors

2025: Doris Duke Artist Award recipient, recognizing exceptional achievement in jazz.
2024: NAACP Image Award winner for Outstanding Jazz Album for Brand New Life×Brand New Life7 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1You’re a Girl for One Man Only3:592Brand New Life4:323Come Live With Me (interlude)2:234Livin’ and Lovin’ in My Own Way4:585Running Game (intro)1:076Running Game4:397Moving Target4:218Dust4:379The Windmills of Your Mind2:5610If It’s Magic3:29.
2023: DownBeat Critics Poll winner in the “Miscellaneous Instrument” (harpist) category.
2023: Jazz Music Awards nominee for Best Mainstream Artist and Best Mainstream Album for Somewhere Different×Somewhere Different13 August 2021 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Reclamation6:422Spirit U Will7:113Pretend4:314Somewhere Different5:215Love & Struggle5:416Beautiful Is Black7:057Olivia Benson4:018Tickled Pink3:01.
2022: Edison Award winner for International Jazz Album for Somewhere Different.
2022: NAACP Image Award nominee for Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental for Somewhere Different.
2022: Grammy Award nominee for Best Instrumental Composition for “Beautiful Is Black”.
2020: DownBeat Critics Poll winner in the "Rising Star" harpist category.

Personal life

Younger is the cousin of urban farmer and MacArthur Fellow Will Allen, and Jordan Younger, former cornerback of the Toronto Argonauts.

As leader

2011: Prelude, Independent
2014: The Brandee Younger 4tet, Live at the Breeding Ground, Independent
2016: Wax & Wane, Independent / Revive Music
2019: Soul Awakening, Independent
2020: Force Majeure, International Anthem
2021: Somewhere Different, Impulse!
2023: Brand New Life, Impulse!
2025: Gadabout Season, Impulse!

Compilations

2015: Supreme Sonacy, Blue Note Records / Revive Music
2018: A Day in the Life: Impressions of Pepper, Impulse!

As sideperson/contributor

2006: Cassie, Cassie
2007: Finding Forever, Common
2008: In This Day, E.J. Strickland
2008: Overdose On Life, featuring Drake, Mickey Factz, and Travis McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, Omen (record producer)
2009: Of Song, Marcus Strickland
2009: Blending Times, Ravi Coltrane
2012: Retox, Lakecia Benjamin
2012: Moments, Michael Campagna
2013: New York: A Love Story, Mack Wilds
2013: Love in the Future, John Legend
2014: Face Forward, Jeremy Pelt
2016: Everything's Beautiful, Robert Glasper, Miles Davis
2016: The Dreaming Room, Laura Mvula
2016: Rebel/Find it Hard to Say, Ms Lauryn Hill
2016: The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald, Jane Monheit
2017: Bringin' It, Christian McBride Big Band
2017: Residente, Residente
2017: Aromanticism, Moses Sumney
2018: Universal Beings, Makaya McCraven
2018: Old Fashioned Gal, Kat Edmonson
2019: Sex High, Salaam Remi & James Fauntleroy
2019: Resavoir, Resavoir
2019: Dreams, Fairytales, Fantasies, A$AP Ferg ft Brent Faiyaz & Salaam Remi
2019: Poetry in Motion, The Soul Rebels
2020: Dreamers Do, Kat Edmonson
2020: I Think I'm Good, Kassa Overall
2020: We're New Again, Gil Scott-Heron, Makaya McCraven
2020: Pursuance: The Coltranes, Lakecia Benjamin
2020: Græ, Moses Sumney
2020: Harmony, Josh Groban
2020: Lagos and Pepper Soup, Michael Olatuja
2020: Universal Beings E&F sides, Makaya McCraven
2020: Black Love, Salaam Remi ft. Teedra Moses & D-Nice
2020: Until this Day, Salaam Remi ft. Case
2020: VOYAGE-19, Bilal
2020: Petestrumentals 3, Pete Rock
2021: Private Space, Durand Jones & The Indications
2021: Satori Ways, Max Herre Web Web
2021: Talk Memory, BadBadNotGood
2021: Donda, Kanye West
2022: In These Times, Makaya McCraven
2023: The Omnichord Real Book, Meshell Ndegeocello
2023: Fine Tune, Terrace Martin
2024: Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace, Shabaka Hutchings
2024: Shadow, Lizz Wright
2025: Cabin in the Sky, De La Soul
2026: Trip the Night Fantastic, Terri Lyne Carrington
2026: The Color of Rain, Aja Monet