Brandee Younger

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.

Career 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. 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. 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.

Discography 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