When you think of the many instruments that we’re accustomed to hearing in much of the music that we review and consume here at Nostalgia King, one of the least likely that we would expect to hear would be the harp which actually makes it special when we are treated to a release utilizing one. In fact, when it it comes to the harp, our go to records in our collection is strictly dedicated to the legendary Dorothy Ashby whose self titled LP, Afro-Harping, Dorothy’s Harp and The Rubáiyát Of Dorothy Ashby are all in regular rotation during our listening sessions.
Recently, I was introduced to a musician, a harpist to be specific by the name of Lizzie Steiner who seems to building musical legacy of her own and doing it in the most authentic way. Lizzie Steiner is an acclaimed solo and collaborative harpist whose expansive artistry has made her one of the most sought– after players in contemporary music. A Seattle native, Lizzie moved to Philadelphia for grad school and hopefully this is where she will continue to record and bless the city and the world with her amazing talents. Combining her classical training with an imaginative approach to improvisation and arranging, she has forged a distinctive path across genres, extending beyond the concert stage into fashion, film, and media. Lizzie recently released her debut album, “Reluctant Princess” playing her Lyon & Healy Style 30 harp and it’s a beautiful listen that feels very personal in every way.
Reluctant Princess is comprised of her own arrangements of her favorite R&B and neo-soul songs with her own compositions for solo acoustic harp, without production or overdubs. Listening to the new album is a calming experience in a world that has become very chaotic yet Reluctant Princess brings a much needed balance to give us a sense of hope that peace is somewhere in our future.
Reluctant Princess is out now and highly recommended!