Ashara is a deeply personal and generational body of work, showcasing Jason's innate aptitude for
storytelling through poetic lyrics and beautiful imagery. The award- winning musician, who is
renowned for his stellar vocals and inimitable skill on acoustic guitar and piano, brings together an
exceptional lineup of musicians for this album. His band Ashara, after which the album is named,
includes legendary Jamaican- Canadian guitarist Carl Harvey (Toots & The Maytals), woodwind
specialist Marcus Ali, vocalist Laurel Tubman, drummer Vince Reel and bassist Michael Shapinko.
The album also features the musical contributions of Scottish talents including Ross Ainslie and Ali
Hutton on whistles, Jack Smedley on fiddle, and John Somerville on accordion.
Ashara was recorded over a ten- month period and captures the essence of the band's chemistry. The
initial recordings took place at Toronto's renowned Canterbury Music Company, allowing them to
capture the authentic magic of live performances. The contributions of the Scottish musicians were
recorded in their own respective locations, adding another layer of diversity to the album's sonic
tapestry. The album features predominantly original compositions by Jason, with notable exceptions
being a heartfelt rendition of Roy Harper's "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease" and an
inspired musical interpretation of Alexander Montgomerie's sixteenth-century poem "The Night is Near
Gone"