YolanDa Brown

Who is YolanDa Brown?

YolanDa Brown, born to Jamaican parents in Barking, London, England, is a British saxophonist and composer.

A past student of Bancroft's School, Beal High School and the University of Kent, Kent Business School in Canterbury, England and the University of Oviedo in Asturias, Spain. Her Undergraduate Master's Dissertation was on "Combining SSM and DESM in an Athletics Club." She also fronted a TV talk show on a Sky Channel and appeared in inspirational idents for BET network.

She is a 2008 MOBO“Best Jazz” winner and UMA 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, Michel Camilo, Hilario Duran, Dean Fraser, Byard Lancaster, Sonny Bradshaw, Otis Williams and the Temptations along with their manager Shelly Berger.

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, to name but a few. In late 2008, she toured the UK, opening for The Temptations.