Yoko Suzuki has created a brand new series of jazz concerts at City of Asylum that combine her saxophone skills with her expertise in ethnomusicology. This year Yoko explores the history of female jazz harpists / composers and the rarely heard contributions they made to the jazz scene. The first concert in a series of three spotlights the music of Dorothy Ashby.

In the world of jazz, harpist Dorothy Ashby had a unique and singular presence. She was a bebop master on her instrument, and used her talents to convince naysayers who insisted the harp belonged in the classical realm.

The program includes a conversation with Ashby scholar and harpist Dr. Jennifer Betzer followed by a concert featuring Pittsburgh based harpist Nuiko Wadden.

Jazz Harpists: The music of Dorothy Ashby