Brand New Life
Impulse!, 2023
8/10
The Grammy Nominated harpist and composer Brandee Younger delivers a Dorothy Ashby inspired listen, where both originals and interpretations comprise the 10 well thought out tracks.
“You’re A Girl For One Man Only” opens the listen with elegant harp and frisky drums making for a very mesmerizing landscape, and “Brand New Life” follows with the soulful vocals adding much to the playful bass lines and R&B fueled climate.
Further on, “Livin’ And Lovin’ My Own Way” recruits Pete Rock for the hip-hop influenced mood that uses the harp in a hypnotic fashion, while “Running Game” carries a stirring intimacy that pairs the bass with the strings for a poetic album highlight.
Arriving near the end, the stylish “The Windmills Of Your Mind” emits waves of crisp drumming and soothing beauty from the harp, and “If It’s Magic” exits with nearly therapeutic playing from Younger’s very agile fingers.
Younger is considered a premier harpist for her generation and was the first Black female solo artist to be Grammy nominated for Best Instrumental Composition. These careful yet exploratory tracks will certainly gain her more much deserved attention, as Younger uses her instrument in very interesting ways.
Travels well with: Lakecia Benjamin- Phoenix; Kendrick Scott Oracle- A Wall Becomes A Bridge