Harpist, writer, and educator Ashley Jackson will release her debut solo album, Ennanga, in advance of Juneteenth, the holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate African American history. Jackson says of the album, “Inspired by my musical heritage, Ennanga pays homage to the rich diversity of American music by exploring the musical and spiritual connections between various forms of America’s musical expression. While Ennanga celebrates the impact of West African traditions, and the centrality of the African American spiritual to the history of American music, it also highlights the artistry of Black composers who have consistently redefined our musical landscape.”
The album’s title track, William Grant Still’s Ennanga for harp, string quintet, and piano, is named for a type of harp from Uganda. The album also features world premiere recordings of Jackson’s arrangements of Alice Coltrane’s Prema, originally for piano and strings, as well as of two spirituals after piano versions by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Harpist Brandee Younger’s composition Essence of Ruby, which was inspired by Dorothy Ashby’s Essence of a Sapphire, is also included. The Harlem Chamber Players, of which Jackson is also a member, are the album’s featured guest artists, performing on both the title track and Prema.
For more information, visit Jackson’s website.
