YolanDa Brown
| YolanDa Brown | |
|---|---|
| File:Yolanda Brown 2012.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yolanda Faye Brown |
| Born | 4 October 1982 Barking, east London, England |
| Genres | Jazz, Urban Contemporary, R&B, Gospel |
| Instruments | Tenor, Soprano and Alto Saxophone |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Website | www.yolandabrown.co.uk |
YolanDa Brown, born to Jamaican parents in Barking, London, England (4 October 1982),[1] is a British saxophonist and composer.[2][3]
A past student of Bancroft's School, Beal High School and the University of Kent, Kent Business School[4] in Canterbury, England and the University of Oviedo in Asturias, Spain.[5] Her Undergraduate Master's Dissertation was on "Combining SSM (Soft systems methodology) and DESM (Discrete event simulation) in an Athletics Club."[6] She also fronted a TV talk show on a Sky Channel and appeared in inspirational idents for BET network.(Black Entertainment Television)
She is a 2008 MOBO“Best Jazz” winner[7] and UMA[8] nominee. In 2009, YolanDa became the first musician to not only be nominated in the "Best Jazz" category of the MOBO's in consecutive years, but also the first to win it two years running. In 2009 she also won "Best Jazz" at the UMA's.
YolanDa has worked with musicians such as Monty Alexander, Ramon Vallé,[9] Michel Camilo, Hilario Duran, Dean Fraser, Byard Lancaster,[10] Sonny Bradshaw,[11] Otis Williams and the The Temptations along with their manager Shelly Berger.[12]
As a solo artist/saxophonist has worked in genres from straight ahead jazz to grime, performing front and centre alongside various artists including Sway DaSafo, Bashy, Omar Lye-Fook, Soweto Kinch, Alexander O'Neal, Mica Paris, Terri Walker, Dean Fraser, Sonny Bradshaw and Desi Jones,[13] to name but a few. In late 2008, she toured the UK, opening for The Temptations.
YolanDa's pivotal performances of 2010 included an invitation to take part in PanJazz 2010 on its transfer from the Lincoln Center in New York to the UK[14] This saw her performing alongside musicians including Etienne Charles and Leon Foster Thomas.[15] Her 19 November concert at IndigO2 at the O2 Arena, London continued her record of musically excellent and uniquely entertaining sold out events.[16]
On 2 December 2010, YolanDa was presented with an Honorary Doctor of the Arts by the University of East London[17] in a ceremony at the Barbican Theatre, London.
For YolanDa music has always been a therapeutic and enabling force which promotes 360 degree communication and empowering links across all humankind. In striving to share and involve the many rather than an elite few through the wonder of music, YolanDa was honoured to become a Celebrity Ambassador for HRH The Prince of Wales and His Prince’s Trust Charity.
YolanDa is a Yamaha endorsed artist[18] and was also appointed the UK's class band ambassador in February 2011. Yamaha Class Band is a whole-class wind band teaching method, currently being piloted, until July 2012, in a collaboration between Yamaha UK and two of the UK's leading music services.[19]
YolanDa is also a Patron of The Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians,which provides outstanding progression and development opportunities to young people who demonstrate significant musical talent and commitment.[20]
In February 2012 YolanDa released her first album. Remaining an independent artist, YolanDa kicked off a UK and overseas tour in support of the album with two benchmark concerts at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo accompanied by her full band and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. At the end of the year, April Showers May Flowers was listed as an album of the year on the UK iTunes "Best Jazz Album of 2012" list.
YolanDa's sophomore album is due for release in 2016. She continues to tour extensively at home and abroad and headlined her own show for the first time at the Hackney Empire, London on October 3rd 2015. This is where YolanDa first highlighted her talent, providing musical interludes through guest spots in comedy and variety shows early on in her career. The show was sold out to capacity and featured special guests including The Floacist, Omar Lye-Fook, Mica Paris and Julian Marley. It was an emotional return "home" for an artist who is no longer an entre nous.
In September 2015, YolanDa and Black Grape Global signed with Alex Fane of United Agents Music, the music division of United Agents, to represent her touring and engagement interests.
Contents
Discography
EP’s and Albums
- A Step Closer (2008 EP release – Black Grape Productions)
- April Showers May Flowers (Feb.2012 Album release – Black Grape Records)
Chart positions
Audited and Monitored chart position in the UK[21]
| Year | Album | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2012 | April Showers May Flowers | UK iTunes Jazz Charts | 1 |
| April 2012 | April Showers May Flowers | UK Amazon Jazz Charts | 1 |
| April 2012 | A Step Closer EP | UK iTunes Jazz Charts | 2 |
| April 2012 | April Showers May Flowers | UK Amazon Pop Charts | 3 |
| April 2012 | April Showers May Flowers | UK Jazz and Blues Charts Official Charts Company | 7 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Category | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Awards | |||
| 2008 | WIEA Awards | Best Musician 2008 | Won |
| Urban Music Awards | Best Jazz Act 2008 | Nominated | |
| Music of Black Origin Awards | Best Jazz Act 2008 | Won | |
| 2009 | Marlborough Jazz Festival | Best Performer 2009 | Won |
| Urban Music Awards | Best Jazz Act 2009 | Won | |
| Urban Music Awards | Most Inspiring Act 2009 | Nominated | |
| Music of Black Origin Awards | Best Jazz Act 2009 | Won | |
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ PhD Poster Presentation 07/08[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://panjazz.com/
- ↑ http://panjazz.com/images/anancystories.jpg
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- YolanDa Brown Website
- YolanDa Brown interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul', June 2009
- Brown EPK for April Showers, May Flowers Feb 2012(video)
- YolanDa on BBC South East News – Feb 2012 (video)
- YolanDa Brown wins MOBO for the second year in a row(video)
- YolanDa Brown performs Lady live (video)
- YolanDa Brown on BBC Woman’s Hour, Feb 2012
- YolanDa Brown BBC Breakfast Interview and Performance, April 2012
- Articles with dead external links from February 2012
- Use British English from February 2012
- Use dmy dates from February 2012
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- Living people
- 1982 births
- Jazz fusion saxophonists
- Female jazz musicians
- Smooth jazz saxophonists
- English jazz saxophonists
- Musicians from London
- Black British musicians
- English people of Jamaican descent
- Jamaican jazz saxophonists
- University of Oviedo alumni
