Afro Harping (Reissue) (Vinyl 2LP)

Definitive deep funky album from harpist Dorothy Ashby. Excellent late 60's soulful jazz harp recorded for Chess with arrangements by Richard Evans and a killer (unknown) line-up! Samples galore, from "Soul Vibrations" and "Come Live With Me", plus a version of "Little Sunflower". Like an earlier version of Alice Cotrane's seminal 70s releases on Impulse.

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’.


Tracklist

1. Soul Vibrations
2. Games
3. Action Line
4. Lonely Girl
5. Life Has Its Trials
6. Afro-Harping
7. Little Sunflower
8. Valley Of The Dolls (Theme)
9. Come Live With Me
10. The Look Of Love

Deluxe Edition Bonus Tracks:

11. Action Line Master A, Take 2
12. Afro-Harping Alt. Take
13. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Master B, Take 2
14. Lonely Girl Master G, Take 1
15. Soul Vibrations Alt. Take
16. Life Has Its Trials Master C, Take 2
17. Little Sunflower Master F, Take 3
18. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Master B, Take 6