Education
BM - Shenandoah Conservatory
MM - University of New Orleans
About
A native of North Carolina, Grammy-winner Ashlin Parker began studying and performing trumpet at age 10. He earned his high school diploma from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied classical trumpet with Raymond Mase of the American Brass Quintet and the Julliard School of Music. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Shenandoah Conservatory (2005) and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans (2009).
As a member of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Ashlin shared in the 2009 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble for their album, Book One. He is also a member of several other bands, including Delfeayo Marsalis' Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Bill Summers and Jazalsa, The Next Generation Big Band, and Tony Clifton's Cliftones, as well as the bands of Roland Guerin and Adonis Rose.
Ashlin has performed with Aretha Franklin, Nicholas Payton, Anthony Hamilton, Steve Masakowski, Sonny Fortune, Christian Scott, Brian Coogan, and Leon "Kid Chocolate" Brown, as well as The Kermit Ruffins Big Band, Matt Lemmler's New Orleans Jazz Revival Band, Leroy Jones' The Original Hurricane Brass Band, Russell Batiste and Friends, David Torkanowsky's Big Band, Ed Petersen and the Test, Khris Royal and Dark Matter, Pat Casey and the New Sound, and Brother Joscephus and the Love Revival Revolution Orchestra. Ashlin has also played with Ellis Marsalis, Jason Marsalis, Herlin Riley, Vincent Gardner, Brice Winston, Tim Warfield, Ron Westray, Evan Christopher, and Gino Vanelli.
Ashlin has also led his own band in an array of settings and cities ranging from North Carolina to cruises to major jazz festivals. Since 2008, the Ashlin Parker Quartet has regularly performed in New Orleans' premiere clubs such as Snug Harbor and Irvin Mayfield's Jazz Playhouse.
Ashlin has toured nationally with Anthony Hamilton in Jill Scott's Summer Block Party (2011) and Comic Relief's "The Return of Tony Clifton" (2008-12). He has toured nationally and internationally with the NOJO (2008-present) at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, French Quarter Fest, Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Macy Music Fest, Hangout Fest, Bayfest, Playboy Jazz Festival, Salem Jazz Festival, South Carolina Jazz Festival, St. Louis Jazz Festival (Senegal, Africa), North Sea Jazz Festival (The Netherlands), and the Ingolstädter Jazztage (Germany).
Since the release of the NOJO's Book One, Ashlin has recorded several albums with other artists, such as the self-titled Pat Casey and the New Sound, and Khris Royal and Dark Matter. Most notable among these albums are two versions of a tribute to Harold Batiste: a live recording entitled A Living Tribute to Harold Batiste (from the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival) and the studio recording, Harold Batiste Presents The Next Generation Big Band, released under the historic AFO record label.