Maria Schneider, Drew Gress, Fred Hersch, John Hollenbeck, Bjork, Dave Douglas, Ellery Eskelin, Kenny Wheeler, Norma Winstone, John Taylor, Luciana Souza, Brad Mehldau, Larry Grenadier, Dave Holland, Arvo Pärt, Paul Motian, John Patitucci, Joni Mitchell, Jack Kerouac, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Pablo Neruda, Rainer Maria Rilke, Damien Rice, Duncan Sheik, and so many more...
"Summers will be a bassist to follow; she gets a strong wood sound from her instrument and she pays close attention to the other musicians..."
- National Post
Canadian Bassist and Composer Ashley Summers has collected musical experiences and opportunities that reach well beyond her years. With her musical family as her earliest inspiration, she began to play the acoustic bass at the age of fifteen, and two years later moved to Toronto to study with Canadian luminary Don Thompson at Humber College, where she completed her Jazz Performance Degree.
Ashley's performance and composition talents have brought her to stages all over the world, including such local favourites as the Rex Hotel and Vancouver's Jazz Cellar. In 2003, she was selected to be a member of the Sisters In Jazz All-Star Quintet, an International Collegiate Competition sponsored by IAJE and BET on Jazz. The group performed at the annual IAJE Conference, the Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, DC, and also completed a tour of Europe, playing such legendary festivals as Jazz a Vienne in France, the North Sea Jazz Festival in Amsterdam, and the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy. More recently, Ashley has been busy touring with Cleveland-based saxophonist Bobby Selvaggio, playing such legendary clubs as Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadephia, Andy's in Chicago, Twins Jazz in Washington, and The Bop Stop in Cleveland.
Aside from keeping a busy performance schedule, Ashley is also an in-demand educator. Since April 2007, she has served as director for IAJE Canada's Jazzmobile, which places professional jazz musicians in Toronto schools to motivate, educate and inspire young musicians. She has also served as an adjudicator at various Canadian festivals, including the Brandon Jazz Festival in 2008.
Currently, Ashley is busy planning Jazzmobile's 2009 tour and reflecting on the time she recently spent exploring the music scene in Paris, France. Ultimately, she plans to follow the spirit of the music, wherever it takes her.
Thanks for adding me here. It was great seeing you play with Dan Roth at Bread and Circus last month, I hadn't heard you play since you were at Humber.
Aw that is so good! My itinerary includes going home for Christmas, doing a few shows there, and then coming to Toronto after my last show in early January. I can't wait to get back! I'm in Halifax right now doing some shows and jamming with some awesome, tallented musicians. What will you be up to for the next while?
OOO how exciting! Where abouts in BC are your folks? Oh and I saw that you guys are doing a show in Van, thats awesome! I wish I could make it but there will be many more in the future :) I can't wait to see you all again, we will definitely have to have more fun shin digs! Have fun in Vancouver, I'll spread the word!
Hi Ashley, so great to see you again, I loved our session with Dala, your playing on the tracks is beautiful. Hope to work with you sometime soon! gary
Hey cool, thanx for taking the time to check out Solid Brown Records. Be sure to cruise by again some time soon and have a listen to some of my top friends - dig! Cheers from Squamish, BC!
Hi Ashley. Thanks for the add. How are things in TO? Do you make it home much? Hi to your mom and dad. Here's my web site if you know of any bored trpt players that might want to check it out. LOL
