Brandee Younger & Courtney Bryan

A fearless and versatile talent, harpist Brandee Younger delivers a consistently fresh take on the ancient instrument as an educator, event curator, performer and leader of the Brandee Younger Jazz Harp Quartet. Known for expressive interpretations of traditional harp repertoire as well as her continued work with a diverse cross section of musical talents, Younger is widely recognized as a creative linchpin whose nuanced presence and willingness to push boundaries have made her irreplaceable on record and in performance.

The same protean ability has found her sharing stages with jazz leaders and popular hip-hop and R&B titans including Ravi Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Jack DeJohnette, Reggie Workman, Common, John Legend and Lauryn Hill.

Courtney Bryan, a native of New Orleans, is “a pianist and composer of panoramic interests,” says the New York Times. Her music is in conversation with various genres including jazz and other types of experimental music, as well as traditional gospel, spirituals and hymns. Bryan has academic degrees from Oberlin Conservatory (BM), Rutgers University (MM) and Columbia University (DMA) with advisor George Lewis. Following an appointment as postdoctoral research associate in the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University, she will begin her position as assistant professor of music at Tulane University’s Newcomb Department of Music beginning in fall 2016.

Bryan’s work has been presented in a wide range of venues, including Lincoln Center, Miller Theatre, Symphony Space, The Stone, Roulette Intermedium, La MaMa Experimental Theatre, National Gallery of Art, Blue Note Jazz Club, Jazz Gallery and Bethany and Abyssinian Baptist Churches. Upcoming commissions include pieces for the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Miller Theatre, Carnegie Hall’s Link Up program and Duo Noire.

They are joined by bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Kassa Overall.

$33–$45, CMA members $30–$40

Program
The evening’s program at the Cleveland Museum of Art revolves around the music of Alice Coltrane, as well as Brandee Younger’s original compositions.