William Ash - To Barry Harris with Love

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 "Jack's Leg"-with classic standards and bebop staples. "Ceora" offers a bossa treatment of Lee Morgan's tune, while "Bongo Beep, " "Scrapple from the Apple, " and "Moose the Mooch" pay joyful homage to Charlie Parker. The remaining selections-like "All God's Children Got Rhythm, " "Yesterdays, " and "Like Someone in Love"-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.