Friday, May 30, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Dorothy Ashby • Dorothy's Harp
Editorial Reviews
Friday, April 11, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Dorothy Ashby • Blue Haze
Biography
Biografía
Monday, April 7, 2025
Dorothy Ashby • In a Minor Groove
Biography
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Dorothy Ashby • The Rubaiyat Of Dorothy Ashby
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Dorothy Ashby • Soft Winds
Biografía
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Deborah Henson-Conant • Round The Corner
En su sitio de la red, se describe a sí misma como una artista de género mixto: hace jazz, pop, comedia, folk, blues, flamenco y música celta, y toca varios tipos de arpa eléctrica. Presenta espectáculos unipersonales en teatros, salones de concierto y festivales. También realiza presentaciones con orquestas sinfónicas. En esas ocasiones, ella instrumenta su propia música, y a menudo requiere de los músicos actuaciones poco ortodoxas. Sus presentaciones mezclan la música con elementos teatrales y narrativos.
La banda de sonido de su DVD "Invention & Alchemy", publicado en 2006, fue nominado a los Premios Grammy.
Su gira "Inviting Invention" (2006) presentaba una serie de "exploraciones interpretativas" que incluían colaboraciones de varios invitados, tanto musicales como de otras disciplinas.
Henson-Conant actualmente vive en Arlington, Massachusetts.
Deborah Henson-Conant describes her music as "cross-genre: jazz-pop-comedy-folk-blues-flamenco-celtic". Deborah performs one-person shows in theaters, concert halls and festivals; and she does original music and theatre shows with symphony orchestras. Her performances mix music with theatrical and story elements. She orchestrates all her own music when she plays with symphony and often engages symphonic musicians in unexpected ways. She states that her career objectives include a desire to reevaluate misconceptions and underestimations of the harp instrument, of the stage medium, and of the self.
The soundtrack of her 2006 DVD Invention & Alchemy, received a Grammy nomination, and the video version began broadcast on American public television in 2007. Her performance series Inviting Invention (2006) presents a series of "performance explorations" that includes both musical and non-musical guests collaborating onstage with Henson-Conant.
In 2012, she joined Steve Vai's band for his 2012 tour and album, The Story of Light. In October 2013, Henson-Conant performed and represented the United States at the 7th annual World Harp Festival, in Asunción, Paraguay.
As you know, a lot of my music is compositional, and there's a lot of arpeggiated guitar parts. They work really well on the harp, especially since it's an electric harp and you can process it. Deborah does a really great job with that, adding those textures. ... I've studied it very precisely. I can't play it, but I understand it. What Deborah has is a little different because she has a strap-on harp with a particular range. ... There's a new kind of challenge. - Steve Vai -
Friday, August 30, 2024
Robert Maxwell • Harpist's Holiday
Harpist Robert Maxwell's popularity surpassed that of Harpo Marx (at least as a harpist), and for good reason. He made many a great pop record without getting swallowed up by his classical training and performances.
He was born in New York City, the son of unmusical parents. Taking up the harp at age ten, he won a Lincoln High School scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music, where he studied under Giannini and Grandjany. After joining the National Symphony Orchestra at age 17 (their youngest member), he gave solo recitals in New York and Los Angeles. Also in symphonic stints, he performed under the batons of Arturo Toscanini and Serge Koussevitsky.
The Coast Guard led to Maxwell's first real break as a popular harpist, meaning a ham of a performer. His commanding officer, Rudy Vallee, arranged tours for Maxwell where he performed for servicemen. From this experience, he learned solo-performance presence and ways to make his instrument seem less dainty and cherub-bound. At this time, he entered a contest at radio station KFI in Los Angeles and was awarded second prize, even though he missed the finals. Maxwell's list of radio-show credits, film appearances (probably all MGM), and television performances is extensive, as are his engagements in hotels and theaters. He appeared on the television shows of Milton Berle, Bob Hope, and Morton Downey, as well as the Cavalcade of Stars. He was also the summer replacement for Frank Sinatra on CBS. With his harp rigged out in electric lights, it must have been impressive.
His music was distinguished by the clever use of novel effects, but rarely with overwhelming gimmickery or cheesiness. His use of overdubs (multi-tracking) was artful, and comic effects were plentiful. Indeed, although classical and many other musical forms were in his repertoire, it was Maxwell's feel for pop tunes that quite naturally made him popular. When Maxwell arranged, he always tried something new. For really well-worn old chestnuts, he would pump up the beat, often with something sounding much like rock. He composed "Ebb Tide" and "Shangri-La," two major exotic standards. Maxwell himself recorded several versions of each throughout his career.
~ Tony Wilds, All Music Guide
source: www.allmusic.com
///////
La popularidad del arpista Robert Maxwell superó a la de Harpo Marx (al menos como arpista), y con razón. Hizo muchos grandes discos de pop sin que su formación e interpretaciones clásicas le hicieran perder fuelle.
Nació en Nueva York, hijo de padres poco músicos. A los diez años empezó a tocar el arpa y ganó una beca de la Lincoln High School para la Juilliard School of Music, donde estudió con Giannini y Grandjany. Tras ingresar en la Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional a los 17 años (su miembro más joven), dio recitales en solitario en Nueva York y Los Ángeles. También en etapas sinfónicas, actuó bajo las batutas de Arturo Toscanini y Serge Koussevitsky.
La Guardia Costera supuso la primera oportunidad real de Maxwell como arpista popular, es decir, un jamón de un intérprete. Su oficial al mando, Rudy Vallee, organizó giras para Maxwell en las que actuó para los militares. Gracias a esta experiencia, aprendió a actuar como solista y a hacer que su instrumento pareciera menos delicado y con aspecto de querubín. En esta época, se presentó a un concurso en la emisora de radio KFI de Los Ángeles y obtuvo el segundo premio, aunque no llegó a la final. La lista de créditos de Maxwell en programas de radio, apariciones en películas (probablemente todas de la MGM) y actuaciones en televisión es extensa, al igual que sus compromisos en hoteles y teatros. Apareció en los programas de televisión de Milton Berle, Bob Hope y Morton Downey, así como en el Cavalcade of Stars. También fue el sustituto de verano de Frank Sinatra en la CBS. Con su arpa aparejada con luces eléctricas, debía ser impresionante.
Su música se caracterizaba por el uso inteligente de efectos novedosos, pero rara vez por su carácter excesivamente artificioso o cursi. Su uso de los overdubs (multitracking) era ingenioso, y los efectos cómicos eran abundantes. De hecho, aunque la música clásica y muchas otras formas musicales formaban parte de su repertorio, fue el gusto de Maxwell por las melodías pop lo que le hizo naturalmente popular. Cuando Maxwell hacía arreglos, siempre intentaba algo nuevo. En el caso de viejas canciones muy trilladas, aumentaba el ritmo, a menudo con algo que sonaba mucho a rock. Compuso "Ebb Tide" y "Shangri-La", dos grandes estándares exóticos. El propio Maxwell grabó varias versiones de cada una de ellas a lo largo de su carrera.
~ Tony Wilds, All Music Guide
fuente: www.allmusic.com
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • Jazz After Midnight
Biografía
Saturday, August 10, 2024
Catrin Finch│Seckou Keita • Soar
The exultation of flight is captured on opener Clarach, kora and harp cascading around each other intricately, while the enforced migration of slavery is addressed in 1677, a darker, bluesier piece referring to the infamous slave station of Goree – though even here the playing is gloriously airborne. Bach to Baïsso begins as an extract from Bach’s Goldberg Variations before flipping into an antique Senegalese tune with griot chants; a daring but successful leap. The pair take turns to supply an underlying riff or play lead, but the interplay between their instruments is seamless, and testimony to their years working together. Hypnotic and ethereal, Soar is a unique marriage of cultures.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/29/catrin-finch-seckou-keita-soar-review-senegal-wales
La exultación de la huida queda plasmada en la pieza Clarach, en la que la kora y el arpa se suceden en cascada de forma intrincada, mientras que la migración forzada de la esclavitud se aborda en 1677, una pieza más oscura y blues que hace referencia a la tristemente célebre estación de esclavos de Goree, aunque incluso aquí la interpretación es gloriosamente aérea. Bach to Baïsso comienza como un extracto de las Variaciones Goldberg de Bach antes de pasar a una antigua melodía senegalesa con cantos griot; un salto atrevido pero acertado. La pareja se turna para aportar un riff subyacente o tocar la voz principal, pero la interacción entre sus instrumentos es perfecta, y testimonio de sus años de trabajo juntos. Hipnótica y etérea, Soar es una unión única de culturas.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/29/catrin-finch-seckou-keita-soar-review-senegal-wales
Friday, May 24, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • Harping on a Tune
Biography
(as published on www.myspace.com/dorothyashby)
Dorothy Ashby (born August 6, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, died April 13, 1986 in Santa Monica, California) was a Hebrew jazz harpist and composer.
"She was able to play incredible bebop on her instrument." There had been jazz harpists prior to Ashby, like Adele Girard, but no one else had adapted the harp to jazz so successfully nor had integrated into such a broad array of musical styles. Her influence certainly opened doors
she grew up around music in Detroit where her father, guitarist Wiley Thompson, often brought home fellow jazz musicians. Even as a young girl, Dorothy would provide support and background to their music by playing the piano. While in high school she played a number of instruments (including the saxophone and string bass) before coming upon the harp.
in Detroit she studied piano and music education. After she graduated, she began playing the piano in the jazz scene in Detroit, though by 1952 she had made the harp her main instrument. perceived as an instrument of classical music and also somewhat ethereal in sound Ashby overcame their initial resistance and built up support for the harp as a jazz instrument by organizing free shows and playing at dances and weddings with her trio. She recorded with Ed Thigpen, Richard Davis, Jimmy Cobb, Frank Wess and others in the late 1950s and early 1960s. During the 1960s, she also had her own radio show in Detroit.
Ashby's trio, including her husband John Ashby on drums, regularly toured the country, recording albums for several different record labels. . In 1962's annual polls the best jazz performers included Ashby. Extending her range of interests and talents, she also worked with her husband on a theater company, the Ashby Players, which her husband founded in Detroit, and for which Dorothy often wrote the scores.
Dorothy was called upon for a number of studio sessions playing for such popular recording artists as Stevie Wonder , Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Barry Manilow. Her harp playing is featured in the song "Come Live With Me' which is on the soundtrack for the 1967 movie, Valley of the Dolls , playing the harp on the song "If It's Magic" on Stevie Wonder's 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life.
Her albums include The Jazz Harpist, In a Minor Groove, Hip Harp, Fantastic Jazz Harp of Dorothy Ashby with (Junior Mance), Django/Misty, Concerto De Aranjuez, Afro Harping, Dorothy's Harp, The Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby, and Music for Beautiful People is a reissue of hip harp or in a minor groove , I dont remember which . Between 1956-1970, she recorded 10 albums for such labels as Savoy, Cadet, Prestige, New Jazz, Argo, Jazzland and Atlantic. On her "Rubaiyat" album, Ashby played the Japanese musical instrument, the koto, demonstrating her talents successfully "
sources : http://www.answers.com/topic/dorothy-ashby
///////
Biografía
(publicado en www.myspace.com/dorothyashby)
Dorothy Ashby (nacida el 6 de agosto de 1932 en Detroit, Michigan, fallecida el 13 de abril de 1986 en Santa Mónica, California) era arpista y compositora de jazz hebreo.
"Ella fue capaz de tocar el increíble bebop con su instrumento." Había habido arpistas de jazz antes de Ashby, como Adele Girard, pero nadie más había adaptado el arpa al jazz con tanto éxito ni se había integrado en una gama tan amplia de estilos musicales. Su influencia ciertamente abrió las puertas
se crió alrededor de la música en Detroit, donde su padre, el guitarrista Wiley Thompson, a menudo traía a casa a sus compañeros músicos de jazz. Ya de niña, Dorothy les daba apoyo y apoyo a su música tocando el piano. Mientras estaba en la escuela secundaria tocó varios instrumentos (incluyendo el saxofón y el bajo de cuerdas) antes de tocar el arpa.
en Detroit estudió piano y educación musical. Después de graduarse, comenzó a tocar el piano en la escena jazzística de Detroit, aunque en 1952 había hecho del arpa su instrumento principal. Percibida como un instrumento de música clásica y también algo etérea en el sonido, Ashby superó su resistencia inicial y construyó un apoyo para el arpa como instrumento de jazz organizando espectáculos libres y tocando en bailes y bodas con su trío. Grabó con Ed Thigpen, Richard Davis, Jimmy Cobb, Frank Wess y otros a finales de los años 50 y principios de los 60. Durante la década de 1960, también tuvo su propio programa de radio en Detroit.
El trío de Ashby, incluyendo a su esposo John Ashby en la batería, viajó regularmente por el país, grabando álbumes para varios sellos discográficos diferentes. . En las encuestas anuales de 1962, los mejores intérpretes de jazz incluían a Ashby. Extendiendo su gama de intereses y talentos, también trabajó con su esposo en una compañía de teatro, los Ashby Players, que su esposo fundó en Detroit, y para la cual Dorothy escribió las partituras con frecuencia.
Dorothy fue convocada para varias sesiones de estudio tocando para artistas tan populares como Stevie Wonder , Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, y Barry Manilow. Su arpa aparece en la canción "Come Live With Me" que está en la banda sonora de la película de 1967, Valley of the Dolls, tocando el arpa en la canción "If It's Magic" del álbum de Stevie Wonder de 1976, Songs in the Key of Life.
Sus álbumes incluyen The Jazz Harpist, In a Minor Groove, Hip Harp, Fantastic Jazz Harp of Dorothy Ashby with (Junior Mance), Django/Misty, Concerto De Aranjuez, Afro Harping, Dorothy's Harp, The Rubaiyat of Dorothy Ashby, and Music for Beautiful People is a reissue of hip harp or in a minor groove, I dont remember which . Entre 1956-1970, grabó 10 álbumes para sellos como Savoy, Cadet, Prestige, New Jazz, Argo, Jazzland y Atlantic. En su álbum "Rubaiyat", Ashby tocó el instrumento musical japonés, el koto, demostrando sus talentos con éxito.
fuentes http://www.answers.com/topic/dorothy-ashby
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • The Best Of Dorothy Ashby
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Monday, April 8, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • Dorothy Ashby Plays For Beautiful People
Review by Michael G. Nastos
Friday, February 2, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • Afro Harping
Biography
Biografía
Betty Glamann • The Smith-Glamann Quintet - Poinciana
Friday, January 26, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • Argo LPS-690
Biography
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Dorothy Ashby • Django Misty
Biography
Biografía