Chasing Joy: Brandee Younger’s Musical Odyssey in Gadabout Season

From personal challenges to sonic exploration, Younger’s new album is a bold journey of self-discovery and celebration.

Brandee Younger’s upcoming album Gadabout Season, set for release on June 13, 2025 on Impulse! Records, marks a deeply personal and creative chapter in her musical journey. Inspired by the concept of a “gadabout” — a carefree, joy-seeking individual always in motion — the album reflects Younger’s search for meaning and beauty amid life’s challenges. Drawing from her two-decade-long history of collaboration with bassist-producer Rashaan Carter and drummer Allan Mednard, the album combines jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and classical influences, with Younger contributing nearly all of the compositions. It’s an introspective yet expansive exploration, with a sound that’s both cerebral and emotionally resonant.

Much of Gadabout Season was written in the serene upstate New York cabin where Younger found peace during a particularly challenging year. With Carter producing and engineering the album at Younger’s Harlem apartment, the recording process was slow and intentional, allowing the music to reveal itself organically. The album also features a life-changing addition to Younger’s sound—the harp once owned by Alice Coltrane. As the harp’s custodian, Younger has infused it with her own personal touch, transforming it into a powerful tool of expression throughout the album.

The album features exciting collaborations, including vibraphonist Joel Ross, percussionist Makaya McCraven, and saxophonist Josh Johnson. Tracks like the title cut, “Surrender,” and “BBL” highlight the album’s eclectic range, blending spiritual jazz with experimental textures and emotionally charged melodies. With Gadabout Season, Younger continues to carve out her own voice in jazz, expanding the boundaries of the genre while reflecting on her own journey and growth as an artist. This release is another significant addition to the legacy of Impulse! Records, further cementing Younger’s place among the most innovative and celebrated jazz musicians of her generation.

Tour Dates:

May 3, 2025 – Flushing Town Hall – Queens, NY

May 16, 2025 – Carnegie Hall with Ravi Coltrane – New York, NY

May 23, 2025 – International Harp Competition – Bloomington, IN

June 19, 2025 – Groton Hill Music Center – Groton, MA

June 21, 2025 – Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club – Portsmouth, NH

July 3, 2025 – Ljubljana Jazz Festival – Krizanke, Ljubljana, Slovenia

July 4, 2025 – Ghent Jazz Festival – De Bijloke, Ghent, Belgium

July 8, 2025 – Montreux Jazz Festival – Montreux, Switzerland

August 10, 2025 – NoMad Jazz Festival – Sofia, Bulgaria

October 5, 2025 – Jazzfest Brno – Cabaret des Péchés, Brno, Czech Republic

October 7, 2025 – Enjoy Jazzfestival – Kulturhaus Karlstorbahnhof, Heidelberg, Germany

October 10, 2025 – Jassmine – Warsaw, Poland

October 18, 2025 – Hopkins Center for the Arts – Hanover, NH

November 3, 2025 – Jazzfest Budapest – Eiffel Art Studios, Budapest, Hungary

November 4, 2025 – Conservatori del Liceu Auditori – Barcelona Jazz Festival, Barcelona, Spain

November 6, 2025 – Teatro Isabel la Católica – Granada, Spain

November 8, 2025 – Rockit! Festival – De Oosterpoort, Groningen, Netherlands

November 13, 2025 – Bowker Auditorium – Amherst, MANovember 14-16, 2025 – SOUTH Jazz Kitchen – Philadelphia, PA