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Among the vestment racks, satchel purveyors and art galleries of New York's SoHo neighborhood lies a small merchant unlike its neighbors. It's called The Evolution Store, and it peddles, um, natural-history collectibles. You know, preserved insects, taxidermy, skulls and bones, remnants of marine creatures. It's as if a museum ran out of space and started putting its sloths and tarantulas in the gift shop. Naturally, our video producers saw it and thought: Obviously, we need to record there. We're not quite sure what any of this has to do with Brandee Younger, though she is a rare breed in her world: a jazz harpist. Well, she's classically trained, and plays her share of freelance and wedding gigs — in her C.V. are recordings for rappers Common and Drake — but like predecessors Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby, she's also developed a way to improvise and truly groove on the harp. In 2011, she recorded an EP with her jazz group, and she's got more recording sessions for a full-length record in the next month. With a full band, the song heard here, "Hortense," takes on a distinct Caribbean bounce, a one-drop reggae beat anchoring Dezron Douglas' bass line. Stripped down to a duo, it wafts and glides, all arpeggios and plucked wires. There's glass everywhere inside The Evolution Store; appropriately, the performance was sparkling and crystalline. If Younger and Douglas were unnerved by all the stuffed, mummified and two-headed fauna around them, they didn't let on — during the performance, anyway. -- PATRICK JARENWATTANANON CREDITS Producers: Saidah Blount, Mito Habe-Evans, Patrick Jarenwattananon Videographers: Gabriella Garcia-Pardo, Mito Habe-Evans, Tim Wilkins Audio Engineer: Kevin Wait Editor: Gabriella Garcia-Pardo Special Thanks: The Evolution Store
Brandee Younger (born July 1, 1983) is an American harpist, composer, and educator.
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This 2011 clip of Brandee Younger is a rare gem that showcases the harpist's unique ability to blend classical training with improvisational jazz. Captured in the unorthodox setting of The Evolution Store, a merchant peddling natural-history collectibles in New York's SoHo neighborhood, this footage offers a glimpse into Younger's versatility as an artist.
The clip features Younger performing "Hortense" in a duo setup with bassist Dezron Douglas. Without a full band, the song takes on a more subdued and introspective tone, with Younger's arpeggios and plucked wires creating a crystalline atmosphere that complements the glass-filled surroundings of The Evolution Store. This stripped-down arrangement allows listeners to appreciate Younger's technical skill and expressiveness on the harp.
What makes this footage particularly notable is its context. The Evolution Store's eclectic inventory, featuring preserved insects, taxidermy, and marine creatures, provides an unusual backdrop for a live performance. The juxtaposition of Younger's elegant harp playing with the store's bizarre and fascinating merchandise creates a captivating visual experience that adds depth to the music.
Brandee Younger's background as a jazz harpist is also worth highlighting. As a rare breed in her world, she has developed a unique style that combines classical training with improvisational skills, drawing inspiration from predecessors like Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Her work with rappers Common and Drake demonstrates her versatility and ability to adapt to different genres.
The production values of this clip are also noteworthy. The producers' decision to capture Younger's performance in such an unusual setting adds a layer of interest to the footage, while the videographers' use of the store's glass-filled environment creates a visually striking contrast with the harp's delicate sound. The audio engineer's work ensures that Younger's music is presented in crystal-clear quality, allowing listeners to fully appreciate her technical skill and expressiveness.
This clip serves as a testament to Brandee Younger's artistry and creativity, showcasing her ability to adapt to different settings and genres while remaining true to her unique sound. As a rare example of live harp performance footage from 2011, it is a valuable addition to the archive, offering insights into Younger's development as an artist and her place within the jazz and classical music traditions.
Editorial context researched and compiled from verified sources.
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