Soft Winds cover

Soft Winds

Dorothy Ashby · 1961

32 min · 11 tracks · hard bop · cool jazz

A lush tapestry of jazz textures woven with Dorothy Ashby's enchanting harp melodies and cool, sophisticated arrangements.

Soft Winds is an album by Dorothy Ashby, released in 1961. A lush tapestry of jazz textures woven with Dorothy Ashby's enchanting harp melodies and cool, sophisticated arrangements. 'Soft Winds' is significant for its role in popularizing the harp within jazz, a rarity at the time. The album received critical acclaim for its unique sound and has been influential in inspiring subsequent generations of jazz musicians to explore the instrument's potential. Here's what makes it worth your time and what to listen to next.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Soft Winds sound like?

A lush tapestry of jazz textures woven with Dorothy Ashby's enchanting harp melodies and cool, sophisticated arrangements. Rooted in hard bop and cool jazz.

What makes Soft Winds by Dorothy Ashby notable?

'Soft Winds' is significant for its role in popularizing the harp within jazz, a rarity at the time. The album received critical acclaim for its unique sound and has been influential in inspiring subsequent generations of jazz musicians to explore the instrument's potential. Released in 1961, 'Soft Winds' was Dorothy Ashby's third album, showcasing her growing prominence in the jazz scene after her debut album 'Afro-Harping' in 1968. At this point in her career, she was establishing herself as a pioneering harpist in a genre typically dominated by other instruments, blending traditional jazz elements with innovative harp techniques.

How many songs are on Soft Winds?

Soft Winds has 11 tracks, running approximately 32 minutes.

Tracklist

11 tracks·32:12

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Soft Winds Standout 2:56
  • 2 Wild as the Wind Standout 4:21
  • 3 The Man I Love 2:56
  • 4 My Ship 3:40
  • 5 Love Is Here to Stay 2:42
  • 6 I’ve Never Been in Love Before 2:27
  • 7 With Strings Attached 2:25
  • 8 Laura 2:59
  • 9 The Guns of Navarone 2:15
  • 10 Misty Standout 2:42
  • 11 The Gypsy in My Soul 2:49

Release Date

January 1, 1961

Genre

cool jazz, hard bop

More albums in cool jazz

Artist Origin

United States

Runtime

32 min 12 sec