Get to know YolanDa Brown

YolanDa hosts a weekly show on Jazz FM - YolanDa Brown on Saturday - each week from 2pm. Let's get to know her a little better...

Who is YolanDa Brown?

YolanDa is is a British saxophonist, composer, broadcaster and philanthropist.

Where is she from?

Born in Barking, YolanDa grew up in Gants Hill in East London. Having graduated with a first class degree in Operations management from the University of Kent, she went on to study 2 Masters in Management research and Methods of social research and had been studying a PhD for four years, before taking a hiatus from her thesis to pursue her music career. In 2011 and in her mid 20s, YolanDa was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London for her services to Music.

How did YolanDa Brown come to fame?

From the early onset of her career, YolanDa has always painted her own path, from organising and promoting her own gigs, to releasing her music independently. A two-time MOBO award-winning musician. YolanDa became the first musician win in the "Best Jazz" category of the MOBO Awards two years running, in 2008 and 2009.

Since then she has developed a broadcast career presenting shows across radio and TV. Her eponymous series for CBeebies, "YolanDa’s Band Jam", which recently won the Royal Television Society Awards as Best Children’s Programme.

YolanDa has also appeared on a whole host of TV shows including Celebrity Mastermind, Sunday Brunch, House of Games and BBC Breakfast.

YolanDa is chair of Youth Music (the largest music education charity in the UK).

In 2018 along with philanthropist James JP Drake, she launched the "Drake YolanDa Award" offering grants for emerging musicians. An entrepreneur too, YolanDa launched the “London Saxophone Festival” now in its third year, from concerts for children, to film screenings and the very popular Sax Village, it is a welcome addition to the festival circuit.

Who has YolanDa worked with as a musician?

A prolific collaborator, Brown has worked with musicians including Billy Ocean, Jools Holland, Snarky Puppy’s Bill Laurance, Kelly Jones from Stereophonics, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, reggae legend Bob Marley’s son Julian Marley, Dave Stewart from Eurythmics, The Floacist from the duo Floetry, Mica Paris, Omar Lye-Fook and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

She has toured with Diana Krall, Errol Brown, Beverley Knight and The Temptations.

What are YolanDa's albums?

She has released a number of EPs and albums including; Finding my Voice (2007), A Step Closer (2008), April Showers May Flowers (2012) and Love Politics War (2017).

April Showers May Flowers - YolanDa's debut album - reached the top spot in the Jazz Charts, as well as her next album Love Politics War.

In January 2021, she also released herchildren-themed recordYolanDa's Band Jam, reflecting her popular CBeebies show of the same name.

Which instruments can she play?

YolanDa plays all saxophones and piano. She is an official "Yamaha Artist" and grew up playing a wide range of instruments from; violin to piano, oboe, drums and more before settling on the saxophone.

What is YolanDa's Band Jam?

'YolanDa's Band Jam' is a popular CBeebies television show encouraging children to discover the joys of music through dancing, singing and playing. YolanDa’s Band Jam expands children’s knowledge about music and instruments! Launched in January 2019, 'YolanDa's Band Jam' is a popular CBeebies television show encouraging children to discover the joys of music through dancing, singing and playing, YolanDa’s Band Jam expands children’s knowledge about music and instruments!

YolanDa has had a fruitful career on TV, hosting a special centenary prom for Dizzy Gillespie and Ella Fitzgerald, she has appeared on 'Celebrity Eggheads' and 'Celebrity Mastermind' and has appeared on the panel for BBC Young Musician of the Year.

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