About the Artist Carol Robbins grew up in Los Angeles, where piano lessons at an early age inspired her to experiment with jazz improvisation. By age ten she was studying harp and eventually became one of the handful of students ever accepted by the late pioneering harpist Dorothy Ashby. One of the world’s few jazz harpists, Ms. Robbins has recorded and performed with an eclectic variety of artists including Billy Childs, Linda Ronstadt, Teddy Edwards and Frank Sinatra. Her memorable television credits include Cheers, Frazier and The Tonight Show. Highlight appearances in 2004 included a live radio broadcast on KCRW with Australian singer Sia, a duo with Bea Arthur at the Hollywood Bowl in A Tribute to Peggy Lee, and an engagement as performer and instructor at the Lyon Healy International Harp Conference in Salt Lake City. Several of her jazz arrangements for harp have been published by Vanderbilt Editions, and her three independently-produced jazz CDs, Three and Four, Chords In Blue and Jazz Play are available on cdbaby.com. She has been nominated for a Grammy as a member of Billy Childs' Jazz Chamber Ensemble for the groups' work on "Lyric" in the catagory of best jazz instrumental album of 2005. In 2006 she will be performing in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York with Childs and with her own group. Album Review There have been relatively few jazz harpists, but Carol Robbins studied with one of the best, Dorothy Ashby, and she is a fine player as well. This CD features Robbins primarily as an unaccompanied soloist, with tantalizing versions of familiar standards such as "Who Can I Turn To?," "Easy to Love," "Isn't It Romantic," and "A Time for Love," all of which show a considerable gift for lyricism without degrading into Muzaky background music. Her original work "Blues for Dorothy," which is dedicated to her late teacher, is a tasty yet understated duet with bassist Dave Stone. Several other tracks add drummer Gordon Peeke as well, including her gently swinging "Notes to Bill," a tribute to pianist Bill Evans which does an excellent job at capturing the spirit of his playing without resorting to imitation. This well crafted release will reward listeners who take the trouble to seek it. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide