Brandee Younger on Tour
Harpist and composer Brandee Younger, who released her most personal and vulnerable album “Gadabout Season” this past June, is about to start her European tour. The album was recorded on Alice Coltrane’s harp and “reflects the journey — the search for meaning and beauty amid life’s most complex moments, ultimately emerging with a deeper sense of self,” says Younger. A gadabout is a carefree pleasure-seeker who is always in motion, seeking out fun no matter the circumstances. But the album doesn’t only reflect the search for fun and pleasure, but also the search for something much deeper, see the quote above. The title track probably best describes this search. It is both a thumping joyride and a sensitive ballad. Flutist Shabaka Hutchings guests on the beautiful “End Means”. There is a fleeting urgency on the hurried “Breaking Point”. Here, she easily moves away from the comparisons to the afore-mentioned Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, two of the most popular harpists of the 60s and 70s.
The immense beauty of the instrument shines through on pieces like “New Pinnacle” (my personal favorite) where you can delve deep into a sort of stunning bliss that is hard to achieve with any other instrument. Brandee composed or co-composed almost all of the tracks and the album was produced by Rashaan Carter. There are also guest appearances by composer and pianist Courtney Bryan (the eternal “Surrender”), saxophonist, keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Josh Johnson (the elegant and relaxing “Discernment”), and singer Niia (the haunting “Unswept Corners”, another utterly entrancing gem). European dates below.
10/02 Rotterdam – LantarenVenster
10/04 Amsterdam – Tolhuistuin
10/05 Brno-mesto – Cabaret des Péches
10/06 Vienna – Konzerthaus
10/07 Heidelberg – Karlstorbahnhof
10/09 Poznan – Blue Note
10/10 Warsaw – Jassmine
10/11 Istanbul – Zorlu Performans Sanatları Merkezi
11/03 Budapest – Eiffel Mühelyház
11/04 Barcelona – Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu
11/06 Granada – Teatro Isabel la Católica
11/08 Groningen – SPOT/De Oosterpoort
