Customer Reviews

In a Minor Groove

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If I had to make a list of favorite obscure CDs this would surely be on it. I'd recommend this to just about anyone with an interest in jazz, especially since this is really two great albums compiled on one CD. I've never heard the harp played anything like this, like some sort of otherworldly guitar. And the flutist Frank Wess is wonderful as well. This is one I keep coming back to when I want to listen to something that just makes me feel good. The whole group just works together so well, at times approaching the lyrical intensity of just about anything I can think of short of Bill Evans. Roy Haynes (or Arthur Taylor) on drums is as always brilliant. I almost wonder why this isn't considered a jazz classic, and this certainly transcends any kind of novelty interest in a jazz harpist or a female jazz instrumentalist.

I bought this album because I wanted to hear some new some new instruments playing jazz, and the sound samples of this album at amazon.com were divine, so I bought this album straight away. I was not disappointed.

In accompaniment to Frank Wess's exemplary flute solos, Ashby plays her harp more like a guitar, and in her own solos, more like a piano. But rest assured, you know you're hearing a harp when you listen, and there's almost nothing else out there that sounds like this. Like the liner notes say, this is not "the hairiest jazz"--at times you can hear very classical patterns, but that just adds to the uniqueness. So far my favorite is the final track from the "Hip Harp" half of the CD, called There's a Small Hotel.

I disagree with the other reviewer's comment that "intonation is a problem" and think that their statement that intonation problems were common in jazz at that time is way off base. The recording is from the 1950s and at time there is some definitely audible fuzz on some of the tracks, but the musicians on this album are consummate professionals and you can hear it in their playing.

I urge anyone interested in bebop jazz or in the harp to buy this CD.

This album is actually a combination of 2 previously released LPs. It is unique in its flavor of straight-ahead jazz for the harp. The instrumentation is Harp, Flute, Bass, and Drums. While intonation is often a problem (as was generally the case in jazz at that time), the overall performance is amazingly merit-worthy, well beyond the novelty aspect. Dorothy's ability to improvise on the harp is still unmatched to this day. It is well worth the buy for anyone interested in the still-infant world of "Jazz Harp."

I am lucky enough to have known Dorothy many years ago when we both lived in Michigan, before she died of cancer. Of her many albums, this compilation of two albums I once had on LPs, is my favorite and over the years have purchased numerous copies to give as gifts. I was greatly surprised when I began to ask harpists who perform with symphony and opera orchestras if they had ever heard of Dorothy. Without exception they all had and were familiar with her recordings. She made quite a few recordings over the years and little-by-little they have been released in CD format. Even though that is the case, many are very difficult to locate and were only made available for a short period of time. Fortunately, this compilation has been available for many years.

I bought this as a "thank you" for a jazz lover. It was so outstanding, I had to borrow it myself! It's now on my own Wish List :-) Great for harp lovers, jazz lovers, music lovers - it covers it all!