Brand New Life CD

Brandee Younger has always been a unique artist: a harpist who frequently utilises the instrument in a wide variety of (sometimes surprising) musical contexts and whose impressive CV also includes work with hip-hop luminaries such as Common and Ryan Leslie. On her fifth solo album, and second for Impulse!, Younger continues this adventurous but highly entertaining approach, offering up a mixture of original compositions and Dorothy Ashby covers that frequently draws influence from hip-hop, smooth jazz, modern soul and fusion. Highlights are plentiful, with our picks including the luscious, harp-laden soul head-nod of 'Brand New Life' (where Mumu Fresh delivers a sublime lead vocal), Pete Rock hook-up 'Livin' And Lovin' In My Own Way', and the duelling harp and vibraphone solos of the vintage Roy Ayers-inspired goodness of 'You're a Girl For One Man Only'.