Lori Andrews

The harp is rarely thought of as a jazz instrument, but in the 1990s Lori Andrews and Deborah Henson-Conant proved that their instrument is not restricted to producing pretty backgrounds. Lori Andrews graduated from Temple University in 1979, played regularly in Atlantic City during 1980-1985, moved to Los Angeles in 1985, and from 1992 on has had a regular gig at the Warehouse in Marina Del Rey, in addition to working in the studios and touring with John Tesh. She had brief on-camera appearances in such films as Bird, The Mambo Kings, and In the Line of Fire. More importantly from the jazz standpoint, she founded her own label, JazHarp Records, and has documented her music since 1993, showing that the harp (at least when played by her) is a viable jazz instrument.