Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw & Brandee Younger

When you think of harp, you might not immediately think of jazz or modern music, but Brandee Younger shows otherwise. This American harpist courageously creates a new position for the harp as a leading instrument. The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw invites Younger for a one-off and unique collaboration, to push the boundaries within big band jazz.

Harpist Brandee Younger is an unmistakable presence in contemporary jazz and has far outgrown the title of 'Rising Star', which she was awarded by the American magazine Downbeat in 2020. In 2022, she was the first woman of color to be nominated for a Grammy in the category 'Best Instrumental Composition'. In recent years, she has worked with Lakecia Benjamin, Robert Glasper, Makaya McCraven, Common, Pharoah Sanders, Ravi Coltrane, Ron Carter, Lauryn Hill and John Legend, among others. Her latest and seventh album 'Brand New Life' is an ode to the work of the boundary-transcending harpist Dorothy Ashby.

The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw consists of world-class Dutch jazz musicians. The big band is among the best in Europe, has won multiple Edison Awards and has previously worked with top musicians such as Chick Corea, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joshua Redman & James Carter. The orchestra makes more than a century of jazz accessible to new generations, but also looks ahead and works with contemporary (jazz) musicians from all over the world.