With
Jazz Master Ellis Marsalis
Ashlin played with the Ellis Marsalis Quintet in a variety of settings from 2014 until Mr. Marsalis' death in 2020. Locations vary from the famous club in New Orleans - Snug Harbor, to jazz festivals in New Orleans and Bermuda, Marshall University, Dizzy’s in New York City, and the Blue Llama Jazz Club in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Listen to a 15-minute song in a Snug Harbor performance or watch the performance of the song "Dippy" from the 2018 Jazz Fest .
At Dizzy’s in Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Ellis Marsalis Quintet played four evenings in November 2016. A surprised reviewer, expecting a performance on the “staid size of the jazz street,” described the ensemble as “a quite energetic machine” with “extremely capable musicians.” His full review may be read here in the Columbia Tribune. Reviews of other performances are provided on this website.
At the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Ashlin has performed with the Ellis Marsalis Quintet to enthusiastic standing-room-only crowds. The performances were recorded live and are available for purchase, along with other years of Ellis Marsalis's performances, at the Munck Music website. For specific years of the Quintet's recordings, click on the following dates: 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018.
In 2017, the Ellis Marsalis Quintet recorded an album of original tunes, entitled The Ellis Marsalis Quintet Plays The Music of Ellis Marsalis. Reviews have been very positive, such as this one in Offbeat Magazine. Ashlin is featured on the track, Zee Blues, on this album.
Among other events in 2018, the Ellis Marsalis Quintet played with the Wynton Marsalis Quintet at the Tanglewood Music Center.
In 2018, both Ellis and Ashlin were honored with Spirit of Satchmo Awards given by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. at the kick-off gala for the Satchmo SummerFest dedicated to Louis Armstrong. Ellis won the award for educational contributions to New Orleans, while Ashlin received the award for musical contributions. Ellis and Ashlin were featured that same year in a commercial for the festival.
In 2019, Ellis and Ashlin were called back to the Satchmo Summerfest gala to play as a duet throughout the evening. Victoria Munt Rogers shared this beautiful photo:
At the 2019 Satchmo SummerFest itself, the Ellis Marsalis Quintet played to a most appreciative audience, as can be heard after this solo on Song for my Father.