William Ash – Quartet Live at Dean Street 1992

William Ash was and remains one of the foremost guitarists in the New York and International Jazz scene. After mastering the guitar within the “Wes Montgomery school”, 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 “Be-Bop”, and he’s worked with many of the greats, including Jack McDuff, Cecil Payne, Roy Hargrove, Joey “G-Clef” Cavaseno, Bobby Forrester, and Larry Goldings. About Ash, “All About Jazz” stated he had “a soulfully mellow sound with a driving dynamic approach”. On this particular album we revisit a young Ash back in 1992, at a typical quartet gig at the now defunct, Dean Street Cafe in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. Dean Street was a mostly “black and bougie” hip little joint where good jazz could be heard in a lively environment, with some decent grub. On this spring evening, Ash’s close buddies Ari Roland on bass and Joey Cavaseno on alto saxophone, join him for some swinging standard fare. The true highlight of this recording is the classically great veteran bebop drummer Jimmy Lovelace is in tow, about which Ash tells us, “this is the only recording of him in his comeback period!” Apparently Lovelace, who had previously worked with guitar greats like George Benson and Wes Montgomery, had been dormant for several years, before someone helped him acquire a drum set and the rest is history. For those who do not know, bassist Roland and guitarist Ash essentially grew up together, in the jazz life, apprenticing with Barry Harris at the Jazz Cultural Theatre in Manhattan, NYC. Ash met reedman Cavaseno as well when both gentlemen were quite young, and they worked together often with such artists as Hammond Organ great, Bobby Forrester. We hope this time capsule provides hours of swinging enjoyment for all.

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Digital Version:

1. Saucer Eyes (10:29) (Randy Weston)

2. William’s Blues (12:08)  (William Ash)

3. Battle Royal (7:47) (Duke Ellington)

4. My Old Flame (6:26) (Sam Coslow)

5. Just Friends (8:16) (Sam Lewis / John Klenner)

6. Little Suede Shoes (12:13) (Charlie Parker)

7. Constellation (Theme) (3:31) (Charlie Parker)

8. How High The Moon (8:31) (Morgan Lewis / Nancy Hamilton)

9. Straight No Chaser (11:36) (Thelonius Monk)

10. Strike Up The Band (9:15) (George Gershwin / Millie Raush)

11. For All We Know (7:30) (J. Fred Coots/ Sam Lewis)

12. St. Thomas (5:47)  (Sonny Rollins)

13. What is This Thing Called Love? (Cole Porter) (9:58)

14. Just You, Just Me (5:24) (Jesse Greer)

CD Version:

1. Saucer Eyes (10:29) (Randy Weston)

2. William’s Blues (12:08) (William Ash)

3. My Old Flame (6:26) (Sam Coslow)

4. Little Suede Shoes (12:13) (Charlie Parker)

5. Strike Up The Band (9:15) (George Gershwin / Millie Raush)

6. For All We Know (7:30) (J. Fred Coots/ Sam Lewis)

7. St. Thomas (5:47) (Sonny Rollins)

8. What is This Thing Called Love? (9:58) (Cole Porter)

William Ash Quartet

Live at Dean Street Cafe

May 17, 1992

Brooklyn, NY

Personnel:

William Ash: guitar

Joey “G-Clef” Cavaseno: alto saxophone

Ari Roland: bass

Jimmy Lovelace: drums

On track 8: Ari Roland,:guitar; William Ash: bass