top of page

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              Contact: Pete Bellas

March 20, 2017                                                                                  (661) 803-4292

                                    

The Ashgrove Band releases their long awaited Ashgrove Sessions

 

The Ashgrove Band has released their debut CD, three years in the making.

 

Jerry Donahue and Susan Rey created this album to celebrate their long careers and collaborations together. Each song chosen for the CD is representative of their histories; Matty Groves and The Sea from Jerry’s work with British superstar Sandy Denny, Tired of Talkin’ and Xpect the Unexpected from his work with Gerry Rafferty and the Animals, respectively. Kennedy and Here I Am are their favorite works of local singer/songwriter Robert Heft. Long Road is an original by guitar great Gerry McGee of the Ventures who guest stars with his Rockabilly Hall of Fame guitar work. Does my Ring Burn Your Finger was picked to highlight Susan’s exceptional voice and the CD ends with a new and unforgettable arrangement of Bob Seger’s iconic Turn the Page. While this eclectic mix of songs covering 40 years of music spans multiple genres it has the distinctive vibe of Jerry Donahue's master string bending combined with Susan Rey's powerful vocals, one reviewer categorized it as “absolutely essential listening for anyone who likes Roots, Americana, Folk . . . wait let me NOT put this CD in a genre. This is essential listening for anyone who likes GREAT MUSIC!”

 

Guitar Player magazine referred to Jerry as "the string-bending king of the planet" and his guitar solos on this CD live up to that reputation. On Turn the Page his guitar will take you “On a long and lonesome highway” and Susan’s haunting vocals will give you a taste of “playin the star again”.

The other musicians on this CD are all world class in their performance and interpretation of the songs. Tom Walsh on drums (America, Spyro Gyra), bassists include Grammy Award winning Matt Malley (Counting Crows), Russ Buchanan (Player, Thieves) and Harrison John Davis (Ricky Nelson). You will also hear the amazing pipes, whistles and harp of Davy Spillane (Titanic, River Dance), Maartin Allcock (Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull) and Jimmy Powers (Ray Charles, Buddy Guy). Finally we were honored to have guitar legend Gerry McGee (Ventures, Monkees) bring us one of his original songs, Long Road, for the album adding his signature finger picking style to an already amazing CD.

 

Sadly, last year, just as we were finalizing the mix of the CD our dear friend Jerry Donahue suffered a stroke and is still fighting a long, uphill battle to recover. Portions of the sales of this CD are going towards helping Jerry in his recovery.

 

More information about the CD is available on the website www.ashgroveband.com and on facebook  https://www.facebook.com/ashgroveband/

 

Contact: Pete Bellas, Executive Producer – (661) 803-4292 or info@ashgroveband.com

bottom of page