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2LP
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ACV 4009LP
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2024 repress. Doxy present a combined reissue of legendary jazz harpist and poly-instrumentalist Dorothy Ashby's Hip Harp and In A Minor Groove, both released separately in 1958. Both albums feature Frank Wess. Dorothy Ashby had a unique soul jazz harp sound, and although the instrument she used is probably more thought of in terms of bedtime lullabies, she actually makes it swing nicely, and with a soulful sound that draws back to traditions of African stringed instruments. Ashby was part of the same scene as Yusef Lateef, and like Lateef, she managed to use odd instrumentation in new contexts, to get a very unique jazz sound. 140 gram clear vinyl; First pressing comes in an edition of 500 (numbered).
From the original liner notes for Hip Harp: "In Hip Harp in addition to the interpretations of standards like 'Moonlight In Vermont', 'Dancing In The Dark', 'Charmaine' and 'There's A Small Hotel', Dorothy and Frank work out on three Ashby tunes: 'Pawky', a minor-key blues, 'Back Talk', major-key blues and 'Jollity', a medium-up original. Dorothy Ashby has added to the basic territory that the harp previously occupied. In fusing her sometimes guitar-like, swinging line to the expected harp effects, she has added another step to the instrument-scope of jazz (...)"
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LP
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MOV 1977LP
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"Dorothy Ashby was an American jazz harpist, one of the very few who used her instrument to play credible jazz and bebop. First studying as a pianist at Wayne State University and later, in 1952, switching to harp. She recorded eleven albums for different jazz labels, like Savoy and Prestige. Dorothy also guested as a studio player on albums with Bill Withers, Stevie Wonder and many more. In 1969 the studio album Dorothy's Harp was released on Cadet Records. On the album she covered songs from Jimmy Webb ('By The Time I Get To Phoenix'), Burt Bacharach and Hal David ('This Girl's In Love With You'), John Lennon and Paul McCartney ('Fool On The Hill'), and others. The record also includes the two Brazilian styled compositions 'Reza' and 'Canto de Ossanha' and two songs written by Dorothy Ashby herself, displaying her craft on the harp with some great bongo work. In the '90s and beyond, the album started to be sought after by hip-hop artists. Pete Rock (from Pete Rock and CL Smooth), Rahzel (from The Roots) and Ugly Duckling were notable for sampling music from Dorothy's Harp. 180 gram vinyl."
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LP
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SOW 013LP
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2025 repress. Sowing Records present a reissue of Dorothy Ashby's Soft Winds: The Swinging Harp of Dorothy Ashby, originally released in 1961. Features female vibes player Terry Pollard. Comes with a version of The Skatalites' "Guns Of Navarone" which is a pretty surreal listening experience. Clear vinyl; edition of 300.
From the original liner notes: "Dorothy Ashby may not be the first jazz harpist (Caspar Reardon) or the first female jazz harpist (Adele Girard), but her good feeling for time and ability to construct melodic, guitar-like lines, mark her as the most accomplished modern jazz harpist (...) Accompanying her was another Detroit girl, Terry Pollard. Terry's main instrument is the piano and she is one of the best in the country, bar none. She is also a pretty fair country vibraharpist and in this set, Miss Pollard plays vibes exclusively. With them is still another Detroiter, Herman Wright, who like Miss Pollard has worked with Terry Gibbs and Yusef Lateef, and who also served as Miss Ashby's regular bassist. (...) Completing the quartet is Jimmy Cobb, drummer for the Miles Davis group. During the proceedings, Cobb travels between brushes and sticks without upsetting the equilibrium of this essentially quiet set. There is wide range of material presented here, from blues like Benny Goodman's title number, 'Soft Winds', and Miss Ashby's 'With Strings Attached', to movie themes such as 'Laura', 'Wild Is the Wind', and 'Guns Of Navarone'. Then there are works by such superior writers of standards as Kurt Weill ('My Ship'); Gershwin ('The Man I Love' and 'Love Is Here To Stay')."
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LP
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SOW 005LP
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2024 repress. Sowing Records present a reissue of Dorothy Ashby's debut album, The Jazz Harpist, originally released in 1957 by the Regent label. Recognized as the woman who gave the harp a jazz voice, here, Ashby is at the head of a highly distinctive combo featuring Frank Wess on flute, Eddie Jones or Wendell Marshall on bass and master Ed Thigpen on drums. The Jazz Harpist is an unprecedented mix of evocative classic sounds and jazz soul, awarded by AllMusic as her first and best album, period! Clear vinyl.
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LP
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WLV 82112LP
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Wax Love present a reissue of Dorothy Ashby's self-titled album, originally released in 1962. Dorothy Ashby was perhaps not Detroit's most famous female jazz harpist as that distinction belongs to Alice Coltrane but she was notably the first and a trailblazer who overcame massive setbacks throughout her nearly 30-year recording career. Playing on an instrument not usually associated with jazz, in a male dominated field, Ashby is a true and amazing original. Originally released in 1962, and with the help of a rhythm section of Herman Wright on bass and John Tooley on drums, Dorothy Ashby is one of her earliest titles as a leader and a beautiful piece of innovative mid-century jazz. A mix of originals and tastefully selected covers like Ellington's "Satin Doll" and Neal Hefti's "Li'l Darlin'" this is another lost jazz classic resuscitated by Wax Love.
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CD
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SPELL 4001CD
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Spellbound Music present a reissue of Dorothy Ashby's sixth album, The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby, originally released in 1965. Ashby was a Detroit born jazz harpist who passed away in her early 50s in 1986. She left a rich legacy of music with The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby being one of her milestones. The music is purely bright and swinging with a joyful mood. Dorothy Ashby is always there upfront while the brass section mostly fills the background with color. Typical for the ancient jazz, there are no vocals on this record but this only adds to the depth and intriguing atmosphere of the music. Ashby starts where Coltrane left the field of real song-oriented albums for his experimental efforts and she really pulls it off. The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby is haunting but with a rather relaxed approach to this style. For the time it was released, this album was an utterly progressive effort and the pop sensibility of many tracks make it a great joy to spin. Jazz fans will dig it and open minded people who love the music of the '60s will also develop a fondness for this beauty.
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LP
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DOY 698LP
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The 1957 recording debut of the most famous jazz harpist! Featuring: Frank Wess (flute), Eddie Jones (bass), Wendall Marshall (bass), and Ed Thigpen (drums). Years ago the All Star polls in jazz were primarily concerned with trumpets, trombones, saxophones and the usual rhythm instruments, but of late the situation has changed in order to welcome new instruments and players into the ever-broadening aspect of jazz performance. Now, such widely varied instruments as the cello, accordion, and flute are accepted as contributing members of the jazz group or orchestra. And here Regent is presenting still another voice for jazz expression: the harp. No, this isn't the first time a harp has been used on a jazz date. But, I can't recall when a harp was featured as a solo instrument within a jazz context as it is here. The harpist of reference is Dorothy Ashby, and in her recording debut she is featured as the leader of a thoroughly refreshing group as well as a soloist, composer and arranger of great merit. Pressed on 140 gram virgin vinyl.
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