Saturday, September 10, 2022

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC: DOROTHY ASHBY "PAWKY"

 
From her second album Hip Harp (1958)
 
Sometimes the algorithms provide interesting material. I came across this artist a week ago and was intrigued by her novel sound: jazz with the main instruments being harp (Ms. Ashby) and flute. No piano or horns. The harp sound and patterns remind me of the West African kora, made famous in recent years by the Malian Toumani Diabaté.
 
Dorothy Ashby (nee Thompson) grew up and studied in Detroit. She married John Ashby and together, they created theatrical musical works for the Ashby Players, a theatrical group specializing in work that would be relevant to the African-American community in Detroit. 

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