View basket “Don’t Stop The Groove” has been added to your basket. Afro Harping – Deluxe Edition Dorothy Ashby SKU: 5399759 Barcode: 0600753997598 35.00 £35.00 Genre: Jazz Label: UMR Released Date: 27th September 2024 Buying Format: 2LP Gatefold Sleeve Forthcoming Pre Order Add to your Wishlist Description Product Info A BONA FIDE ‘CULT’ CLASSIC, AFRO-HARPING IS THE FIRST OF A RAREFIED AND OUTSTANDING TRILOGY OF SOUL-JAZZ ALBUMS BY DOROTHY ASHBY THAT WERE PRODUCED FOR CADET RECORDS (CHESS) BY RICHARD EVANS BETWEEN 1968 AND 1970. Remastered from the original ¼ inch tapes by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios, Afro-Harping is filled front-to-back with sumptuous and hypnotic grooves. Its African percussion, soulful orchestrations, in-the-pocket rhythms and Dorothy’s virtuosity take it far beyond jazzy mood music and made it a favourite of beat heads and producers; sampled by Pete Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Dee (aka J Dilla), Madlib, Flying Lotus and many others. This deluxe version features eight bonus tracks, alternate takes from the surviving four-track session reels that are arguably superior to those on the album, including an explosive rendition of the single, ‘Soul Vibrations’, extended versions of its title track and ‘Little Sunflower’ and two fantastic jazzy readings of ‘Theme from Valley of the Dolls’. Additional flavour is provided by some of the in-studio ‘atmosphere’ that accompanies the bonus cuts. The session reels also featured the voices of Dorothy, Evans and others: encouragement, laughter, a brief burst of beatboxing and a mild disagreement over how many bars had been played, for example. In many cases these elements have been left where they were found, the better to experience the sheer joy of being in the room with Dorothy and some of the Chicago’s finest musicians in the winter of ’68. By that time, Evans was running every aspect of Cadet Records, applying his emerging funk formula to new and established artists, with an overflowing pipeline of work for Ramsey Lewis, John Klemmer, Frank D’Rone, Odell Brown and many more. His growing Afrocentricity, coupled with Ashby’s desire to highlight the Black struggle that had been the subject of several plays (from which three of the tracks on Afro-Harping were drawn) that she and her husband John had produced in her hometown of Detroit, provided the foundations for the recording of Afro-Harping. “Her jazz playing was very New York-ish, very sophisticated,” Evans said. “But I wanted things to be very Black, very funky at Cadet.” Jazz harpists are uncommon, and Dorothy is rightly regarded as probably the greatest of a rather exclusive club that also includes Gail Laughton, Corky Hale, Alice Coltrane and, more recently Verve’s own Brandee Younger. Though all her recorded output is strong, Afro-Harping is truly special. “She was an expert on the harp and did things very instinctively. I think she just wanted to please me, and that’s why those recordings are different,” Evans remembered. Unfortunately, on release Afro-Harping came and went without significant fanfare and, not long after their third and final record together, The Rubaiyat…, the Ashbys left Detroit and moved to LA, where Dorothy concentrated on session work, appearing on records for Bill Withers, Bobby Womack, Stevie Wonder and others. Two years after her final solo album was released in 1984, she died of cancer at the age of just 53 and didn’t get to witness her star rising as her work was widely rediscovered, a process that really began at the turn of the ‘90s. Evans soldiered on at Cadet as the Chess empire crumbled away following its sale to GRT in 1969, but continued to arrange, produce, and perform for other artists and labels. He released a brace of solo albums, in 1972 and 1979, before becoming professor of music at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a position he held for more than two decades. He died at the age of 81 in 2014. Unlike Dorothy, he was blessed to see his work reach new audiences when Afro-Harping and countless other records he had presided over were rediscovered and sampled by hip-hop producers and DJs like Gilles Peterson and 4Hero. Together their partnership scaled new summits, beginning with this record. It was the convergence of two individual journeys through jazz, soul, and funk, and the blueprint for what would become a legendary triumvirate of rare quality. This special release is testament to its lasting appeal, the bonus tracks shedding new light on the inner workings of Dorothy Ashby at the peak of her creativity alongside a visionary producer able to highlight her gifts in a way that perhaps only he ever could. As Marshall Chess says, “You know, I get asked about The Blues and Chuck Berry or The Rolling Stones all the time, but Dorothy Ashby and Richard Evans were both geniuses that a lot of people still don’t know about today.” The LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve with black poly-lined inner sleeves and an illustrated eight-page insert featuring detailed notes by Seán Casey of Shindig! Magazine, whose investigative work has unearthed new information about the making of Afro-Harping. The CD is housed in a digipack with 28-page booklet. Artist Dorothy Ashby Genre Jazz Label UMR Buying Options 2LP Gatefold Sleeve Format 2LP , Gatefold Sleeve Condition New Country UK Track Listings Soul Vibrations Games Action Line Lonely Girl Life Has Its Trials Side 2 Afro-Harping Little Sunflower Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Come Live With Me The Look Of Love Side 3 Action Line Master A, Take 2 Afro-Harping Alt. Take Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Master B, Take 2 Lonely Girl Master G, Take 1 Side 4 Soul Vibrations Alt. Take Life Has Its Trials Master C, Take 2 Little Sunflower Master F, Take 3 Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Master B, Take 6 Share this On Facebook On Twitter Via Email More from Dorothy Ashby and more from Jazz View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby With Strings Attached Jazz | New Land | 6LP, Box Set Released 9th June 2023 £200.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dorothy Ashby With Strings Attached £200.00 Genre: Jazz Label: New Land SKU: NEWLANDX003 Formats: 6LP, Box Set Released Date: 9th June 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby The Rubáiyát Of Dorothy Ashby (Verve By Request) Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 12th May 2023 £26.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Dorothy Ashby The Rubáiyát Of Dorothy Ashby (Verve By Request) £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 4899071 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 12th May 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby Jazz | Spellbound | 1LP Released 6th May 2016 £18.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dorothy Ashby The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby £18.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Spellbound SKU: SPELL4001LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 6th May 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby The Jazz Harpist Jazz | Doxy | 1LP Released 11th February 2014 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dorothy Ashby The Jazz Harpist £17.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Doxy SKU: DOY698 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 11th February 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Ray Charles Presents David “Fathead” Newman Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP Released 12th November 2021 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ray Charles Presents David “Fathead” Newman £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: SD1304 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 12th November 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Hank Mobley Soul Station Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 9th April 2021 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Hank Mobley Soul Station £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 746554 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 9th April 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ben's picks View Product Quick View Dom Salvador Dom Salvador Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 16th August 2024 £32.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dom Salvador Dom Salvador £32.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP3686C Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 16th August 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Bobby Hutcherson Spiral Jazz | Blue Note | Miscellaneous Released 16th February 2010 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bobby Hutcherson Spiral £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: LT996 Formats: Miscellaneous Released Date: 16th February 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Placebo Placebo Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 21st September 2018 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Placebo Placebo £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1093 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 21st September 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View John Coltrane A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters Jazz | Impulse | 3LP Released 8th February 2016 £43.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Coltrane A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters £43.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impulse SKU: 4753604 Formats: 3LP Released Date: 8th February 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Wayne Shorter Alegria Jazz | Universal Play 33 1/3 Series | 180g, 2LP Released 9th August 2024 £75.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Wayne Shorter Alegria £75.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Universal Play 33 1/3 Series SKU: LP43114 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 9th August 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers Big Band Live At Montreux and North Sea Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 5th July 2024 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers Big Band Live At Montreux and North Sea £28.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP3791 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th July 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) Jazz | Audio Wave Music | CD Released 17th February 2023 £42.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) £42.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Audio Wave Music SKU: AWMXR0025 Formats: CD Released Date: 17th February 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders View Product Quick View Julie London Latin In A Satin Mood Jazz | Analogue Productions | 1LP, 200g Released 12th January 2015 £45.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Julie London Latin In A Satin Mood £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: AAPP7278 Formats: 1LP, 200g Released Date: 12th January 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders See more in Jazz Start again
View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby With Strings Attached Jazz | New Land | 6LP, Box Set Released 9th June 2023 £200.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dorothy Ashby With Strings Attached £200.00 Genre: Jazz Label: New Land SKU: NEWLANDX003 Formats: 6LP, Box Set Released Date: 9th June 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby The Rubáiyát Of Dorothy Ashby (Verve By Request) Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 12th May 2023 £26.00 Add to basket Reserve View Reservations Dorothy Ashby The Rubáiyát Of Dorothy Ashby (Verve By Request) £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 4899071 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 12th May 2023 Reserve View Reservations Read More Add to basket
View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby Jazz | Spellbound | 1LP Released 6th May 2016 £18.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dorothy Ashby The Fantastic Jazz Harp Of Dorothy Ashby £18.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Spellbound SKU: SPELL4001LP Formats: 1LP Released Date: 6th May 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Dorothy Ashby The Jazz Harpist Jazz | Doxy | 1LP Released 11th February 2014 £17.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dorothy Ashby The Jazz Harpist £17.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Doxy SKU: DOY698 Formats: 1LP Released Date: 11th February 2014 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Ray Charles Presents David “Fathead” Newman Jazz | Speakers Corner | 180g, 1LP Released 12th November 2021 £34.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Ray Charles Presents David “Fathead” Newman £34.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Speakers Corner SKU: SD1304 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 12th November 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Hank Mobley Soul Station Jazz | Blue Note | 180g, 1LP Released 9th April 2021 £26.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Hank Mobley Soul Station £26.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: 746554 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 9th April 2021 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
Ben's picks View Product Quick View Dom Salvador Dom Salvador Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 16th August 2024 £32.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Dom Salvador Dom Salvador £32.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP3686C Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 16th August 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Bobby Hutcherson Spiral Jazz | Blue Note | Miscellaneous Released 16th February 2010 £13.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Bobby Hutcherson Spiral £13.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Blue Note SKU: LT996 Formats: Miscellaneous Released Date: 16th February 2010 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Placebo Placebo Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released 21st September 2018 £22.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Placebo Placebo £22.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP1093 Formats: 180g, 1LP, Coloured Vinyl Released Date: 21st September 2018 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View John Coltrane A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters Jazz | Impulse | 3LP Released 8th February 2016 £43.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders John Coltrane A Love Supreme: The Complete Masters £43.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Impulse SKU: 4753604 Formats: 3LP Released Date: 8th February 2016 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Wayne Shorter Alegria Jazz | Universal Play 33 1/3 Series | 180g, 2LP Released 9th August 2024 £75.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Wayne Shorter Alegria £75.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Universal Play 33 1/3 Series SKU: LP43114 Formats: 180g, 2LP Released Date: 9th August 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers Big Band Live At Montreux and North Sea Jazz | Music On Vinyl | 180g, 1LP Released 5th July 2024 £28.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers Big Band Live At Montreux and North Sea £28.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Music On Vinyl SKU: MOVLP3791 Formats: 180g, 1LP Released Date: 5th July 2024 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) Jazz | Audio Wave Music | CD Released 17th February 2023 £42.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Grant Green Talkin’ About (XRCD) £42.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Audio Wave Music SKU: AWMXR0025 Formats: CD Released Date: 17th February 2023 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders
View Product Quick View Julie London Latin In A Satin Mood Jazz | Analogue Productions | 1LP, 200g Released 12th January 2015 £45.00 Back Order View Pre/Back Orders Julie London Latin In A Satin Mood £45.00 Genre: Jazz Label: Analogue Productions SKU: AAPP7278 Formats: 1LP, 200g Released Date: 12th January 2015 Read More Back Order View Pre/Back Orders