Dorothy Ashby - Afro Harping (5399759) 2 LP Set

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.

1. Soul Vibrations
2. Games    
3. Action Line    
4. Lonely Girl    
5. Life Has Its Trials    
6. Afro-Harping    
7. Little Sunflower    
8. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls    
9. Come Live With Me    
10. The Look Of Love
11. Action Line Master A (Take 2)
12. Afro-Harping (Alternative Take)
13. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Master B (Take 2)
14. Lonely Girl Master G (Take 1)
15. Soul Vibrations (Alternative Take)
16. Life Has It's Trials Master C (Take 2)
17. Little Sunflower Master F (Take 3)
18. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls Master B (Take 6)