Brandee Youthful sat down with Good Morning America to debate her new album Model New Life and the unparalleled legacy of trailblazing jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. Watch the clip right here.
Youthful appeared alongside Pete Rock to debate the lasting impression of Ashby’s music throughout hip-hop and R&B, and the way Model New Life (out April 7 through Impulse! Information) celebrates Ashby’s groundbreaking work.
A pioneer of the style who’s credited with redefining the harp’s position in up to date music, Dorothy Ashby has influenced hip-hop, jazz, and R&B musicians for many years, from Stevie Marvel to Jay-Z. Youthful, a history-making composer herself in a style that has remained largely male-dominated, continues Ashby’s legacy on Model New Life, using the instrument to bridge genres and many years.
Youthful most just lately launched the album’s R&B and neo-soul inflected title observe, “Model New Life,” a collaboration with Grammy-nominated singer Mumu Recent. Model New Life combines authentic works from Youthful, reinterpretations of Ashby’s work, and previously-unrecorded compositions by Ashby; the album additionally consists of options by Pete Rock, ninth Marvel, and Meshell N’degeocello, alongside manufacturing by Makaya McCraven.
“Creating this album has been a longtime dream of mine,” says Youthful. “I actually had a whole lot of residing to do earlier than having the ability to execute it, genuinely. The completed product is actually consultant of the place I’m now and it’s an honor to convey that by way of the compositions of considered one of my heroes.”
Celebrated because the premier harpist of her era, Brandee Youthful has damaged new floor for harpists over the whole thing of her profession. Youthful made historical past as the primary Black feminine solo artist to be Grammy-nominated for Greatest Instrumental Composition, for “Lovely is Black” from her genre-busting 2021 major-label debut album, Someplace Totally different.
That very same 12 months the album additionally garnered an NAACP Picture Award nomination for Excellent Jazz Album – Instrumental. Together with the discharge of Model New Life, Youthful will likely be embarking on a sequence of headlining exhibits throughout the U.S. this spring, and can observe her whirlwind 2023 with a residency as SFJazz’s Resident Inventive Director in early 2024.
Pre-order Model New Life.