Harold Ashby - R.I.P.

Ellery Eskelin · June-18th-2003, 01:51 PM

Sorry to bear sad news but tenor saxophonist Harold Ashby died of a heart attack here in NYC some days ago. Harold was probably best known for his work with the Duke Ellington band but he kept working and recording over the years sometimes appearing at the Village Vanguard. Harold was a neighbor of mine and I used to really enjoy conversations with him. He would often hang out at the sidewalk cafe here on 43rd Street and sit with friends, never at a loss for a story or comment. He was born in March of 1925 so I guess that put him at about 78 years old. He'll certainly be missed around here as he definitely brightened up my day whenever I saw him and I know many others felt the same about him. And I know he had many fans of his music so that's why I'm posting this message.

Here's a nice photo of Harold that I found on line...

Brian Olewnick · June-18th-2003, 01:59 PM

Yes, I saw this yesterday and was waiting for someone to post on it simply because my knowledge of Ashby's work is very limited. This despite the fact that he was responsible for one of my single favorite tenor performances on record: his lead work on Ellington's "Thanks for the Beautiful Land of the Delta" from New Orleans Suite.

RIP, Mr. Ashby.

Elliot · June-19th-2003, 12:18 PM

Ashby did a beautiful small group CD under his own name on the Mapleshade label, called "Just for You," featuring two or three Ellington tunes and several excellent originals.

He will be missed.

Ellery Eskelin · June-19th-2003, 03:38 PM

Last night WKCR rebroadcast an interview that Phil Schapp did with Harold on his 70th birthday. There was a lot of recordings Harold had done that I wasn't aware of before. He also spoke about his time in Chicago during the '50s. Seems like everyone passed through there at some point, he had some good stories about hearing, meeting and playing with a variety of folks at that time, including Sun Ra (when he was still Sonny Blount). Also some stories about the Ellington band, the grind...how sometimes they'd play places where people didn't even really know who Duke Ellington was, or really weren't that interested in jazz (I think he mentioned Texas). It's always interesting to realize that even the greats had to deal with less than optimal gigs every night.

Zephyr · June-19th-2003, 03:57 PM

In this moment I'm listening to a Harold Ashby cd. Called: "On The Sunny Side Of The Street", with Horace Parlan, Wayne Dockery and Steve McRaven. Only 3 Ellington compositions, and one by Mr. Ashby himself, 'Scufflin'. He has/had a very good sound.

This cd is recorded in Holland (January 12, 1992).

June-20th-2003, 09:17 PM

It is strange that a long time Duke fan, as I am, didn't realize anyone filled the tenor chair between the Webster and Gonsalves eras.
We live and learn.

RIP, Tenorman.

June-21st-2003, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by frankpop1
u know there's no reason to always type 'RIP' it looks fuckin' stupid. it's a rather trite and over used phrase. u could write out rest in peace or bye some other self-aggrandizing grief message once in awhile. bwtfdik.

But not nearly as stupid, trite, self-aggrandizing, or would-be "hip" as ignoring capitalization, spelling, and other demonstrations of lacking everyday civil behavior.

Ocasionally it's merely that they have failed to take their daily medications, of course, or possibly OD-ed on other types of medications.

Dig Gonsalves · July-2nd-2003, 04:52 PM

Just prior to his passing, I found a copy of "Presenting Harold Ashby" on Progressive. A quartet date featuring "Candy," and "Over the Rainbow". Phil Schaap played it straight through recently on WKCR. The Webster lineage always brings a smile.

I also picked up a copy of Bennie Wallace's "Plays Monk" with Jimmy Knepper... perhaps I'll hold off on vinyl for a while.

July-2nd-2003, 05:22 PM

The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse goes on the CD player tonight, in memory of the late Mr. Ashby...

Ellery Eskelin · July-2nd-2003, 06:10 PM

A friend recently informed me that there will be a memorial service for Harold to take place on Sunday, September 14th at St. Peters in Manhattan. Not yet sure what time that'll be...

Zephyr · July-2nd-2003, 07:30 PM

One would be hard put to compose a better definition of the artistry of Harold Ashby than that provided by Duke Ellington in his autobiography "Music Is My Mistress".

The distinctive rasp of Ashby's tenor saxophone was a regular element of the Ellington sound from 1968 through The Maestro's passing in 1974; on "Thanks For The Beautiful Land On The Delta", his solo ranks with the greatest ever created on that instrument in the history of Ellingtonia. A striking player, moulded in the tradition of Ben Webster but with a distinctive hard-edge tone, Ashby's playing deserves the considerable international attention it has attracted in later decades.

Even I (a younger generation ! )know the name of Harold Ashby and have some fine recordings of him.
Several with the Duke Ellington Orchestra; " The 70th Birthday Concert", "The Afro Earasian Eclipse", "Togo Bravo", "In Sweden 1973", "Volume 5: The Suites, New York, 1968 & 1970", "Volume 7: Studio Sessions, 1957 & 1962", "Volume 9: Studio Sessions, New York, 1968" and "Volume 10: Studio Sessions, New York & Chicago, 1965, 1966 & 1971".

Mr. Ashby as a leader with small groups: " The Viking" on Gemini, "What Am I Here For" on Criss Cross, "I'm Old Fashioned" on Stash and "On The Sunny Side Of The Street" on Timeless.

Bill Barton · July-5th-2003, 12:01 PM

Thanks for posting this, Ellery, a very personal and heartfelt remembrance.

The first "real" jazz concert I ever attended was The Duke Ellington Orchestra at Dartmouth College circa 1971, and I had a front-row seat directly in front of Harry Carney, so Mr. Ashby was close by as well. It's a very fond musical memory, and his warm personality was very evident from the stage too.