. On both 1955 albums, Corky was featured playing the harp almost like a guitar—displaying a swinging technique, gorgeous chord phrasing and smart line improvisation. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

You may not have heard of the irrepressible Corky Hale, but you almost certainly have heard her play. A vocalist, jazz pianist and harpist — the jazz harpist, some say — Hale has accompanied, well, ...