William Ash - Sweet Wire Vol. 2 - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

William Ash was and remains one of the foremost guitarists in the New York and International Jazz scene. After mastering the guitar within the InchWes Montgomery schoolInch, he later learned the bass as a means to supplement his career, becoming a double threat, along with a knack for composing catchy jazz tunes. A protege of the great pianist Barry Harris, Ash is one of the modern purveyors of a an ancient, yet newly revered style of jazz known as InchBe-BopInch, and he's worked with many of the greats, including Jack McDuff, Cecil Payne, Roy Hargrove, Joey InchG-ClefInch Cavaseno, Bobby Forrester, and Larry Goldings. About Ash, InchAll About JazzInch stated he had Incha soulfully mellow sound with a driving dynamic approachInch. InchSweet WireInch, Volume 1 and 2 are some now archival recordings that never saw daylight, from back in 2005. They were birthed from some exclusive studio sessions in drummer Jimmy Madison's studio in NYC's Broadway Alley, featuring Madison's tasty, swinging drumming, as well as the versatile bass of Thomas Bramerie. These recordings truly show the art of the guitar trio, once pioneered by Wes Montgomery, Ash's main influence, but Ash takes said art to the next level on these sides. To say that these albums are InchgreatInch merely scratches the surface, as audiences will no doubt be surprised by the high level of Jazz going on here. On InchSweet WireInch Volumes 1 & 2, Ash pushes his own limits and breaks out in a creative flurry of edgy Modern Bop, never before heard in Jazz Music. One of his contemporaries, guitarist Peter Bernstein spoke of this InchWilliam Ash is one the most amazing guitarists I've ever heard. From a ridiculously young age, he had a mastery of the jazz language and natural ability to create and communicate beautiful ideas. A recording from him is an exciting thing!Inch

Chrome Castle take the groovy sounds of '60s garage stomp, '80s college rock, cosmic country and gently shimmering psychedelia and strip out the vocal chords, rendering instrumental concoctions that are expressive in their simple ways, ultimately leaving the meaning up to the listener... The Atlanta quartet's self-titled debut offers a dozen snappy excursions into wide open soundtracks. Employing copious reverb, they're neither Surf nor Spaghetti Western, but there are vague touches here and there along with everything else. - Jeff Clark, Stomp and Stammer

From the time he was just twelve years old, bassist William Ash was under the wing of the great Barry Harris. Alongside fellow prot'g' Ari Roland, he would sneak out at night to attend Barry's legendary jam sessions at the Jazz Cultural Theatre. Harris was famously particular-conservative, outspoken, and uncompromising in his devotion to melody, swing, and harmonic clarity. Harris often said that Roland and Ash were the best thing to come out of the Jazz Cultural Theatre, and both musicians continue to reflect his influence with every note they play. Recorded live on August 12, 2025, at Chambermansion Studios, this album captures that lineage in it's purest form. With Pete Zimmer on drums and Jack Glottman on piano-himself a product of the Harris school-the trio played together in one room, hardwood floors and all, evoking the warmth of Rudy Van Gelder's earliest sessions. Producer and engineer G-Clef da Mad Komposa sought to bring back the unfiltered honesty of jazz as it was meant to be heard spontaneous, organic, and alive. The program mixes one original-Glottman's InchJack's LegInch-with classic standards and bebop staples. InchCeoraInch offers a bossa treatment of Lee Morgan's tune, while InchBongo Beep, Inch InchScrapple from the Apple, Inch and InchMoose the MoochInch pay joyful homage to Charlie Parker. The remaining selections-like InchAll God's Children Got Rhythm, Inch InchYesterdays, Inch and InchLike Someone in LoveInch-are interpreted with deep swing and sincerity. In an era when much of contemporary jazz can feel polished or detached, this record stands apart. There's a sincerity here-an unguarded warmth and human connection-that makes the music breathe. It's a record that doesn't chase trends; it reminds us why this music mattered in the first place. A heartfelt tribute from one of Barry's own to the timeless beauty of his message.