That's A Wrap: 2022

After 2 years of a massive slowdown due to the pandemic, 2022 felt normal again in my world of freelancing. I wanted to share with you some of my highlights of the year. Thanks for following along, coming out to shows, and making me feel supported!

Gig of the Year
This one has to go to Brass Queens at Brooklyn Bowl all the way back on February 3. This was the BKBowl debut for the Queens, and my first time playing there since 2016, having performed there previously with Trumpet Wom’ and numerous times with PitchBlak. I just love playing the Bowl because the hospitality is top notch, the sound on stage is excellent, and the food is so dang good!

Cabaret of the Year
I am not sure off of the top of my head how many times I played at 54 Below or Green Room 42 this year, but it was by far more than any year previously. It was really hard to choose a favorite, but I am going to go with an evening of Julian Hornik’s music at 54 Below. It was my first time meeting Julian and crew but I was SO IMPRESSED by all of them. They’re so talented! They’re so young! Plus it was my first time meeting The Lazours, whose music I got to play every night during Melis Aker’s Hound Dog at Ars Nova.

Honorable mention goes to Jenna Pastuszek who presented two perfectly curated nights at the Green Room 42: an evening with Judy Garland and an evening with Barbra Streisand.

On stage and ready for Julian Hornik at 54 Below

Pop Show of the Year
For our fourth or fifth show ever, Cinco12 headlined the Bryant Park Accordion Festival with a tribute to the Queen of Tejano, Selena! I simply love this music and everyone in the band. I thought we played really well that night and there was some AMAZING people watching. Every time we play this music, I watch people sing their hearts out and dance along. Couple that with the usual insanity that is Bryant Park…that place was LIT!

i am so proud of my former roommate, jenny luna, who put this band together and absolutely slays the vocals

Theater Run of the Year
Another tough choice, but I’ve gotta go with New York City Children’s Theater’s production of Dory Fantasmagory. I thought the show was charming and cute, and from the drum chair I could see the smiles on the faces of all the kiddos in the audience. It is delightful to watch children fall in love with theater for the first time! Plus I REALLY loved hanging with music director Robert Frost. I hope to work with him and NYCCT again soon!

Subbing Show of the Year
I subbed on some amazing shows this year, including Between the Lines and Suffs, but the award here has to go to Six. All of these shows included an immense amount of preparation (including having to rent a drum set in LA so I could practice at my in-laws house last Thanksgiving), but they were highly rewarding. It’s thrilling to play Six: I’m on the stage, in Tony Award-winning costume, and pretty much playing for the majority of the show. Thanks to all of my friends and fam who came out to see me play this show over the last year. It’s the best when I have people I know in the audience.

At the theater before my first night playing the show, losing my mind

on stage at the lena horne theater for my last date at six for the year, still masked but way less nervous

*****
So that’s it! I’m taking off for the rest of the year to enjoy time with friends, family, and of course PHISH, and will be back strong in 2023 with a few dates at Six and a few workshops!

Until then…Ashley