Afro-Harping

Afro-Harping
Studio album by
Released1968
RecordedFebruary 1968
Ter Mar Studios, Chicago
Genres
Length35:56
LabelsCadet
LPS-809
ProducerRichard Evans
Dorothy Ashby chronology
The Fantastic Jazz Harp of Dorothy Ashby
(1965)
Afro-Harping
(1968)
Dorothy's Harp
(1969)

Afro-Harping is an album by jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby recorded in February 1968 and released on the Cadet label.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarStar
MojoStarStarStarStar

Ron Wynn of Allmusic deemed Afro-Harping "the best and most complete album" by Ashby, on which she "turned the harp into a lead instrument, and offered solos that were as tough and memorable as those done by any reed, brass, or percussion player."

A reviewer of Dusty Groove called it "One of the grooviest records ever – a sublime blend of African percussion, soulful orchestrations, and Dorothy Ashby's amazing electric harp...breaking down genres and expectations in the trademark style of the best late 60s sides from the Chicago underground. The record's got a bit of funk, a bit of jazz, and a heck of a lot of soul – and the setting works perfectly for Dorothy's harp, giving it a lot more room to work around than some of her smaller jazz combo albums".

Track listing

  1. "Soul Vibrations" (Richard Evans) - 3:22
  2. "Games" (Dorothy Ashby) - 3:57
  3. "Action Line" (Ashby) - 3:43
  4. "Lonely Girl" (Redd Evans, Neal Hefti, Jay Livingston) - 3:15
  5. "Life Has Its Trials" (Ashby) - 4:31
  6. "Afro-Harping" (Ashby, Phil Upchurch) - 3:01
  7. "Little Sunflower" (Freddie Hubbard) - 3:47
  8. "Valley of the Dolls" (André Previn, Dory Previn) - 3:35
  9. "Come Live With Me" (Russ Carlyle, Mike Caranda, Ivan Washabaugh) - 2:39
  10. "The Look of Love" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - 4:06

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Gorton, TJ (July 30, 2018). "BeatCaffeine's 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs". BeatCaffeine. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ Cadet Album Discography (1965-1971) accessed May 13, 2013
  3. 1 2 Wynn, R. Allmusic Review accessed May 13, 2013
  4. ↑ Andrew, Male (October 2024). "Dorothy Ashby: Afro-Harping". Mojo. No. 371. p. 97.
  5. ↑ "Afro-Harping". Dusty Groove. Retrieved June 17, 2018.