Yolanda Brown

YolanDa Brown born to Jamaican parents in Barking, East London, England (4 October 1982)[1] is a British jazz urban contemporary saxophonist and composer. . A past student of Bancroft's School and Beal High School, YolanDa is currently in the final year of her PhD at the University of Kent, Kent Business School in Canterbury, England. Her Undergraduate Master's Dissertation was on "Combining SSM (Soft systems methodology) and DESM (Discrete event simulation) in an Athletics Club." 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 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[8], Michel Camilo, Hilario Duran, Dean Fraser, Sonny Bradshaw, Otis Williams and the Temptations along with their legendary 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.