Music
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Discography
Ashley released her debut CD "Star Spinning" in January 2008. The CD features 5 originals by Ashley as well as some unique arrangements of standards. The musicians playing on the CD include juno award-winning Mike Murley on tenor sax, Mike Malone on trumpet and flugelhorn, Adrean Farrugia on piano, Mark McIntyre on bass, Mark Inneo on drums, Emile d’Eon on guitar, Alexis Barro on trumpet, Benjamin Barrile on flamenco guitar and Kevin Mendes on cajon. Some of the highlights include the upbeat energetic title track "Star Spinning" with solos by Mike Murley, Mike Malone and Adrean Farrugia, a Dave Holland inspired arrangement of "Nature Boy", the beautiful original "You're Not Here", and a haunting rendition of Michel Legrand's "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" played as a piano/vocal duet by Ashley and Adrean. "Star Spinning is available at www.cdbaby.com and www.indiepool.com.
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Bio
Ashley fell in love with jazz as a young girl while learning the art of dance. When she first heard a recording of Etta James singing “At Last”, she began listening to as much of it as she could, learning most of her technique and repertoire from recordings. She enjoyed memorizing Ella Fitzgerald’s scat solos and trying to imitate the great tone quality she was hearing in various singers. It wasn’t until her teen years though that Ashley discovered there was a world of jazz outside of the older recordings. “I remember my dad calling me downstairs to hear a jazz singer on TV. It was Diana Krall and she was singing on an awards show. I had never heard anyone current singing jazz! I was captivated.” It was then that the idea of a career in jazz first appeared.
So she followed her heart to Hamilton where she studied jazz voice and composition at Mohawk College. During her 2nd and 3rd years she received full scholarship awards at the college. She graduated from the 3 year program in 2005 with honours. Some of her teachers at the college included Mike Malone, Dave McMurdo, Nick Deutch, Jason Logue and Chris Hunt. Ashley studied privately under voice teachers Bob Hamper and Carol McCartney.
While studying at Mohawk Ashley discovered her love for composition. “Kenny Wheeler and Norma Winstone came to the school to do a week long workshop and I was so inspired by Kenny’s compositions. I found Norma to be quite an inspiration too. She writes beautiful lyrics and when she sang through one of my original songs I learned so much about phrasing. When I was in my 3rd year studying big band arranging with Dave McMurdo, Dave played some of Maria Schneider’s music for me and I remember having mixed emotions at the time. I was in awe of the beauty I was experiencing and yet my admiration was mixed with a disappointment in myself. She had created the music I wished to express.”
Since leaving school Ashley has acquired extensive experience in the music field having performed at an array of venues. Some of these include The Montreal Bistro, The Rex Jazz Bar, Gate 403, The Ontario Science Centre, Queen’s Landing Hotel, Fort Erie Race Track, Ancaster Golf and Country Club, Chateau des Charmes, as well as many weddings and corporate/social events. In 2007 Ashley participated in the TD Toronto Jazz Festival and the Burlington Jazz Festival.
She has been called “a truly classy performer with a classic voice”, and is said to have a “contagious enthusiasm”. Her original music and singing has been played on 91.1 JAZZ FM radioin Toronto and WHUS 91.7 in Connecticut. She has performed with such great musicians as Adrian Farrugia, Reg Schwager, Mike Malone, Dave McMurdo, Pat Collins, and Kevin Dempsey. Above all, she brings passion and integrity to her work. For more information visit www.ashleystpierre.com or check out Ashley’s myspace at www.myspace.com/ashleystpierremusic.
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