The Jazz Harpist Explained

The Jazz Harpist
Type:Studio
Artist:Dorothy Ashby
Cover:The Jazz Harpist.jpg
Released:March 21, 1957
Recorded:August 1956
Studio:Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey.
Genre:Jazz
Length:29:31
Label:Regent
MG-6039
Producer:Ozzie Cadena
Chronology:Dorothy Ashby
Next Title:Hip Harp
Next Year:1958

The Jazz Harpist is the debut studio album by American jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby released in 1957 by the Regent label.[1]

Reception

Allmusic reviewed the album awarding it 4½ stars stating "Her first, and best, album has Frank Wess on flute".[2]

A reviewer of Dusty Groove wrote 'Jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby has always had one of the most unusual sounds around – and even though it might sound a bit crazy at first, her mix of harp playing with tight jazzy backing is always a winning combination. This early album has Ms Ashby playing with a groovy little combo that includes Frank Wess on flute, Ed Thigpen on drums, and Wendell Marshall on bass. Even at this early age, Dorothy shows her writing skills well with the originals "Aeolian Groove, "Lamentation", and "Spicy" – and she does a nice job with the other standards she chooses to cover. A nice record, with a soulful sound that you wouldn't expect!"[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Dorothy Ashby except as indicated

  1. "Thou Swell" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) - 4:02
  2. "Stella by Starlight" (Ned Washington, Victor Young) - 3:09
  3. "Dancing on the Ceiling" (Hart, Rodgers) - 7:31
  4. "Aeolian Groove" - 4:16
  5. "Quietude" - 2:52
  6. "Spicy" - 3:41
  7. "Lamentation" - 4:03

Personnel

Production

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://bsnpubs.com/new/regent.pdf Regent Records discography
  2. Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed May 13, 2013
  3. Web site: Dorothy Ashby: Jazz Harpist . . 17 June 2018.