‘Imagine having been a Black female artist & innovator in the ‘60s. Imagine being a jazz musician with a focus on the concert harp. Oh, to be alive at that time… in music… in culture… in politics. This was Dorothy Ashby, and she was so much more than her musical output. She was a true visionary; her impact is still heard in many genres and eras of music, even today’ (Brandee Younger).
Her first six studio LPs — for Regent, Prestige, Jazzland, Argo, Atlantic — remastered from master-tapes, where these survive. 180g vinyl; beautifully sleeved and boxed.
The Jazz Harpist, Hip Harp, In A Minor Groove, Soft Winds: The Swinging Harp Of Dorothy Ashby, Dorothy Ashby, and The Fantastic Harp Of Dorothy Ashby.
With a 44-page book featuring a foreword by Brandee Younger, and impassioned and deeply researched liner notes, including interviews with those that knew her best, and lovely photos.
Just one!
Prime, early-eighties Barrington, expertly fronting chunky Radics on rhythms like The Russians Are Coming and Get In The Groove, in Scientist mixes. No losing with those cards.
Superb 1983 LP out of Channel One.
From the Life Style LP, produced by Alvin Ranglin in 1981, where it’s entitled I Hold The Handle. The lyrics re-purpose The Heptones, drawing its male-vs-female venom. Barrington’ superb singing luxuriates in this restrained, mid-tempo setting.
Plus dub.
Ace Barrington, from the Englishman sessions; with a concussive Scientist dub.