Harold Ashby (March 27, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri, United States – June 13, 2003, in New York City)[1] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He worked with Duke Ellington's band, replacing Jimmy Hamilton in 1968.[2] In 1959, he recorded backing Willie Dixon on the latter's first album, Willie's Blues.[3]

After leaving the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1975, Ashby worked as a freelance musician and took part in various reunions of Ellington alumni, as well as recording and gigging with his own bands.[4]

Ashby suffered a heart attack in May 2003, and was hospitalized before dying at the age of 78, on June 13 that year.[1]

Discography

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As leader

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  • Born to Swing: Introducing The Compulsive Tenor Saxophone of Harold Ashby (Columbia, 1960)
  • Tenor Stuff with Paul Gonsalves (Metronome, 1961)
  • Scufflin' (Black and Blue, 1978)
  • Presenting Harold Ashby (Progressive, 1981)
  • I'm Old Fashioned (Stash, 1991)
  • What Am I Here For? with Mulgrew Miller, Rufus Reid, Ben Riley (Criss Cross, 1992)
  • On the Sunny Side of the Street (Timeless, 1992)
  • Out of Nowhere with Wild Bill Davis (Black and Blue, 1993)
  • Just for You (Mapleshade)

As sideman

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Harold Ashby Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Bio: Harold Ashby". Downbeat. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  3. ^ "Willie's Blues - Willie Dixon, Memphis Slim | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
  4. ^ Cook, Richard (2005). Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia. London, UK: Penguin Books. p. 22. ISBN 0-141-00646-3.