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

The Jazz Harpist
Studio album by
ReleasedMarch 21, 1957
RecordedAugust 1956
StudioVan Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey.
GenreJazz
Length29:31
LabelRegent
MG-6039
ProducerOzzie Cadena
Dorothy Ashby chronology
The Jazz Harpist
(1957)
Hip Harp
(1958)

Reception

edit
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [2]
Sputnikmusic3/5[3]

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!"[4]

Track listing

edit

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

edit

Production

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Regent Records discography accessed May 13, 2013
  2. ^ a b Nastos, M. G. Allmusic Review accessed May 13, 2013
  3. ^ "Dorothy Ashby: The Jazz Harpist". Sputnikmusic. sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  4. ^ "Dorothy Ashby: Jazz Harpist". Dusty Groove. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
edit