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CD |
| 6.819 Ft
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| 1. | I Can't Get Started
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| 2. | What Am I Here For?
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| 3. | Mood Indigo
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| 4. | Frankie And Johnny
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| 5. | Once In A While
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| 6. | Poinciana
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| 7. | C Jam Blues
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| 8. | Prelude To A Kiss
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| 9. | September In The Rain
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| 10. | Perdido
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Jazz / Mainstream Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz
Recorded November 30, 1990 in New York City, NY, USA by Max Bolleman
Harold Ashby (Ts)
Mulgrew Miller (P)
Rufus Reid (B)
Ben Riley (D)
It shouldn't be surprising that Harold Ashby has a decidedly Ellington slant to this CD. A tenor saxophonist in the mold of Ben Webster (who first introduced him to the maestro) Ashby was a frequent substitute on call until he replaced the departed Jimmy Hamilton in 1968, where he remained until the year after Ellington's death. On this relatively rare date as a leader, the veteran devotes half of his program to music from the vast Ellington repertoire, including a strutting take of "What Am I Here For?" and a lush treatment of "Mood Indigo" that initially features Mulgrew Miller's old-fashioned stride piano and Rufus Reid's arco bass in unison with Ashby. An up-tempo "C Jam Blues" is kicked off by drummer Ben Riley, while the leader's rich vibrato reins supreme in their interpretation of the lovely "Prelude to a Kiss." The final track from the Ellington book is Juan Tizol's "Perdido," which wraps the CD with a flourish. Most of the non-Ellington tracks that make up the rest of this release are favorites of the swing era, with the exception of the easygoing and somewhat romantic bossa nova "Poinciana." Although this session was recorded in New York City, the erratic distribution of the Criss Cross label makes this CD somewhat more difficult to find than it should be for many swing fans. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Harold Ashby
Active Decades: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s
Born: Mar 27, 1925 in Kansas City, MO
Died: Jun 13, 2003 in New York, NY
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Big Band, Swing, Mainstream Jazz
An excellent Ben Webster-inspired tenor saxophonist, Harold Ashby fit right in during his period with Duke Ellington. He had played in Kansas City (starting in 1946) and, in the early '50s, in Chicago. While most of his previous work was in R&B and blues bands, he was always a fine swing-based improviser. In 1957, Ashby moved to New York, met Ben Webster, and through the elder tenor was introduced to Duke Ellington. During the next decade he was on the periphery of Duke's world, playing with Mercer Ellington's short-lived band, recording with Ellington stars, and appearing in Duke's My People show. Ashby was more than ready when he joined Ellington in 1968, and he was a major asset to the band up until the leader's death. Ashby continued with Mercer Ellington into 1975, gigged with Benny Goodman and Sy Oliver, and performed often in Europe and led occasional record dates, including 1991's What Am I Here For? and 1999's Just For You, thus keeping the Ellington swing tenor legacy alive. After suffering a heart attack in May of 2003, Harold Ashby was hospitalized in his adopted home of New York. He passed away June 13, 2003 at the age of 78.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
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