Listening to and loving this 1979 recording, by jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby. I have a couple of Ashby albums (Afro Harping, for example). But there’s a lot more by her that I want to check out.
So I thought I’d try this. And I’m not at all disappointed. This recording finds Dorothy and co taking the jazz train in a funky R & B direction, with a bit of pop and easy-listening thrown in.
There are woodwinds, strings, funky backbeats, and covers of numbers such as one of my favourite sambossas, ‘Canto d’Ossanha’, and even pop numbers like ‘By The Time I Get to Phoenix’, ‘This Girl’s in Love With You’, and a fab rendition of ‘Windmills of Your Mind’!
I guess this is exactly the kind of recording many ‘moldy fig’ jazzers felt was ushering in the decline or commercialisation of jazz. I can see what they’re getting at. But I have to beg to differ. Music, jazz as much or more so than any other form, continually evolves.
I personally love it. And the truth is that right from its inception, jazz would take popular songs of the day (often from musicals), and jazz them up. When Dorothy and co. do so, they do it beautifully. I love their jazz samba reading of The Beatles ‘Fool On The Hill’, which closes this album.
Open hearted open minded open eared listeners could do a lot worse than check out Dorothy Ashby in general, and this terrific album in particular. Love it!
There are a couple of sets combining several of Ashby’s earlier recordings, such as the one above, which can be had very cheaply. The four albums pictured on the cover are included, plus a few tracks from a fifth LP, Soft Winds.
Sadly the one below, from Fresh Sounds, is sold out (at least on their website). This one includes all the tracks from all five albums, inc. Soft Winds, and is remastered. I must have one of these two. Preferably this one!
