Jazz harp players

Bully · June 14th, 2008, 12:52 PM

I am trying to write a piece on Alice Coltrane; can anybody else think of another Jazz musician, female or male, who incorporated harp playing into their music? Information welcome, thanks.

Pete Lees · June 16th, 2008, 04:32 AM

Hi,

At the more avant-garde end of things, John Zorn has used harp players in pieces like Cobra and Spillane.

Zeena Parkins, who appears on Cobra, has worked with avant-gardists like Fred Frith and Butch Morris and has a number of albums under her own name.

The best known harpist in jazz, at least before Alice Coltrane, was probably Dorothy Ashby.

Pete

PDEE · June 16th, 2008, 06:36 AM

Also Adele Girad who recorded with Teagarden in the Three T's group, Frankie Trumbauer and Joe Marsala late 30's through 40's and Bobby Gordon (clt) as late as 1992

jazzcritic · June 16th, 2008, 06:46 AM

There was a fascinating harpist, Daphne Hellman, who put out a record called Pop Go the Angels under the band name Hellman's Angels in the mid-1980s. She had a regular gig somewhere in Manhattan at the Village Gate for 28 years, though I don't think she was ever widely known outside the city. This long out of print LP will be hard to find.

Don't forget Dorothy Ashby...

CoyotePalace · June 16th, 2008, 07:32 AM

ECM recording artist IRO HAARLA has an excellent album called NORTHBOUND. Like Coltrane she plays both piano and harp.
Jan Garbarek used a "windharp" on his DIS album that is quite interesting as well...also on ECM records.

Bully · June 17th, 2008, 12:29 PM

That's geat guys- all the information really appreciated. I had heard of Dorothy Ashby but none of the others. Many thanks -have to get checking them out.

philoxenos · July 11th, 2008, 02:06 PM

Merle Thompson is a South African harp player who has been involved in some important jazz projects.

Jacqui Kerrod is another South African harpist who has been busy with a very interesting project with a violinist named Marc Uys - Jacqui is currently living in New York. Ten new works were commissioned for them as a duo including new music by Paul Hanmer, Neo Muyanga and Mike Rennie.

I would be interested in getting a copy of your piece, I love the harp - nice topic. Alice Coltrane produced some beautiful music, besides her harp playing her piano playing was also really hip.

philoxenos · July 11th, 2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bully

I am trying to write a piece on Alice Coltrane; can anybody else think of another Jazz musician, female or male, who incorporated harp playing into their music? Information welcome, thanks.

On another note, I wonder why there are not many male harp players around?

Vic J · July 11th, 2008, 02:33 PM

Ken, my Guitar teacher, Ed Berg was the Guitarist in the Daphne Hellman trio that appeared regularly at the Village Gate for all those years....Daphne was a warm and beautiful person....I got to sit in alot when I was in my late teens..

philoxenos · July 11th, 2008, 02:57 PM

Vic, that sounds like an amazing trio concept... harp, guitar and drums I'm assuming? What did they sound like? Did they play original material?

stopbobby · July 12th, 2008, 08:25 AM

I don't know if this is too late, but there's a woman named Betty Glamman who showed up playing harp on a few jazz albums.

For instance, she's on half the tracks on Kenny Dorham's Jazz Contrasts (although, judging by the cover you would have assumed that Kenny Dorham played harp):

Marcello · July 12th, 2008, 02:50 PM

Edmar Castaneda

http://www.edmarcastaneda.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAN8y-pcVH0

Thespheremon · July 12th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcello

Edmar Castaneda

http://www.edmarcastaneda.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAN8y-pcVH0

I was just about to say Edmar, this guy is absolutely fantastic, definitely worth checking out!

justHerb · July 16th, 2008, 01:53 PM

http://www.hipharp.com/

Spacinjason · December 16th, 2012, 06:03 PM

Hello Jazz harp fans! I made a dope Dorothy Ashby Mixtape that meanders through her beautiful plucks and strums. Peace unto you!

http://jasperjonesradio.wordpress.co...e-hip-harpist/

June 14th, 2008, 12:52 PM	#1
Bully Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hove, UK Posts: 23	Jazz harp players I am trying to write a piece on Alice Coltrane; can anybody else think of another Jazz musician, female or male, who incorporated harp playing into their music? Information welcome, thanks.

June 16th, 2008, 07:32 AM	#5
CoyotePalace Heuristic of the Mystic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,779	ECM recording artist IRO HAARLA has an excellent album called NORTHBOUND. Like Coltrane she plays both piano and harp. Jan Garbarek used a "windharp" on his DIS album that is quite interesting as well...also on ECM records. __________________ You will find that their minds rarely move in a line... http://web.mac.com/flowe/iWeb/Farrell%20Lowe/Welcome.html

June 17th, 2008, 12:29 PM	#6
Bully Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hove, UK Posts: 23	Jazz Harpists That's geat guys- all the information really appreciated. I had heard of Dorothy Ashby but none of the others. Many thanks -have to get checking them out.

July 11th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#7
philoxenos pno, mrmba, stlpan, perc. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 514	Merle Thompson is a South African harp player who has been involved in some important jazz projects. Jacqui Kerrod is another South African harpist who has been busy with a very interesting project with a violinist named Marc Uys - Jacqui is currently living in New York. Ten new works were commissioned for them as a duo including new music by Paul Hanmer, Neo Muyanga and Mike Rennie. I would be interested in getting a copy of your piece, I love the harp - nice topic. Alice Coltrane produced some beautiful music, besides her harp playing her piano playing was also really hip. __________________ "And always, there is the need to keep purifying these feelings and sounds so that we can really see what we've discovered in its pure state. So that we can see more and more clearly what we are. In that way, we can give to those who listen the essence, the best of what we are. But to do that at each stage, we have to keep on cleaning the mirror...." - John Coltrane

December 16th, 2012, 06:03 PM	#15
Spacinjason Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 1	Dope Dorothy Ashby Mixtape Hello Jazz harp fans! I made a dope Dorothy Ashby Mixtape that meanders through her beautiful plucks and strums. Peace unto you! http://jasperjonesradio.wordpress.co...e-hip-harpist/

June 16th, 2008, 04:32 AM	#2
Pete Lees Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 44	Hi, At the more avant-garde end of things, John Zorn has used harp players in pieces like Cobra and Spillane. Zeena Parkins, who appears on Cobra, has worked with avant-gardists like Fred Frith and Butch Morris and has a number of albums under her own name. The best known harpist in jazz, at least before Alice Coltrane, was probably Dorothy Ashby. Pete

June 16th, 2008, 06:36 AM	#3
PDEE Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodinville Wa Posts: 1,640	Also Adele Girad who recorded with Teagarden in the Three T's group, Frankie Trumbauer and Joe Marsala late 30's through 40's and Bobby Gordon (clt) as late as 1992

June 16th, 2008, 06:46 AM	#4
jazzcritic Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 6,531	There was a fascinating harpist, Daphne Hellman, who put out a record called Pop Go the Angels under the band name Hellman's Angels in the mid-1980s. She had a regular gig somewhere in Manhattan at the Village Gate for 28 years, though I don't think she was ever widely known outside the city. This long out of print LP will be hard to find. Don't forget Dorothy Ashby...

July 11th, 2008, 02:33 PM	#9
Vic J Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,548	Ken, my Guitar teacher, Ed Berg was the Guitarist in the Daphne Hellman trio that appeared regularly at the Village Gate for all those years....Daphne was a warm and beautiful person....I got to sit in alot when I was in my late teens..

July 11th, 2008, 02:57 PM	#10
philoxenos pno, mrmba, stlpan, perc. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Africa Posts: 514	Vic, that sounds like an amazing trio concept... harp, guitar and drums I'm assuming? What did they sound like? Did they play original material?

July 12th, 2008, 08:25 AM	#11
stopbobby Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 198	I don't know if this is too late, but there's a woman named Betty Glamman who showed up playing harp on a few jazz albums. For instance, she's on half the tracks on Kenny Dorham's Jazz Contrasts (although, judging by the cover you would have assumed that Kenny Dorham played harp):

July 12th, 2008, 02:50 PM	#12
Marcello Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,687	Edmar Castaneda http://www.edmarcastaneda.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAN8y-pcVH0

July 16th, 2008, 01:53 PM	#14
justHerb Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 1,360	http://www.hipharp.com/

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