Jazz harp is a unique instrument and one that takes on ever more intoxicating textures on
Brandee Younger
's seventh album, 2023's
Brand New Life
. In fact, harp is so rare in jazz circles it's hard to think of two more influential performers on the instrument than
Dorothy Ashby
and
Alice Coltrane
, both of whom
Younger
has drawn from in the past and whose work inspires much of
.
is a strikingly gifted performer, blessed with a crisp technique marked by spiraling, melodic lines and great harmonic, multi-note swells. While sophisticated post-bop jazz is at the core of her style, she pulls equally from classical, funk, and R&B. Primarily, she evokes the work of
Ashby
, whose groundbreaking albums like 1968's
Afro-Harping
serve as a model for
's own genre-bending sound. Here, she showcases her vibrant harp sound, juxtaposing her glassy, otherworldly tone with skittering drum grooves, velvety bass, strings, marimba, and the occasional flute. There's a dream-like quality to her playing here, as in the opening "You're a Girl for One Man Only," a shimmering take on the romantic
ballad that sounds like it was culled from the soundtrack to a '70s romantic thriller. Just as compelling is her reading of
's most recognizable composition, "The Windmills of Your Mind," which
reworks with an angular hip-hop-infused atmosphere with the aid of DJ/producer
9th Wonder
. Other throwback R&B-style moments follow, including the languid title track featuring vocalist
Mumu Fresh
and the reggae-infused "Dust" with
Meshell N'degeocello
. There are also bold instrumental tracks, like "Moving Target," a woozy blend of downtempo club grooves and widescreen orchestral jazz. While there's certainly a classic soul-jazz vibe to much of
's work, her music is swaggering, boldly contemporary, and too conceptually forward-thinking to ever feel anything less than of the now. ~ Matt Collar