The Wrong Cup of Tea1/19/2024 Have you ever decided to be adventurous at a coffee or tea shop and ordered a drink that's a bit out of the ordinary? How many times have you regretted that decision? :) It happens. Not every cup of tea is for you, or for me. But then there's that rare occasion when you go out on a limb to try something new and it is so delicious that you can't stop dreaming about it for the rest of the day. You never would have come across it if you didn't venture out of your usual cup of Earl Gray. You had to take a chance to find out. Life is very similar, except the stakes often seem much higher. You miss 100% of the shots you DON’T take. But the hard part is that, if you regularly push yourself, you’ll also miss a bunch of the shots you DO take. The most important part: KEEP TAKING SHOTS. Or in this case, KEEP TRYING TEAS. I’m proud of myself for taking this long-shot of applying to the 2024 JazzFest. Even though I'm not their "cup of tea" this year, I could be next year. On the other hand, I just got off the phone with a stranger in Texas who accidentally came across my website, LOVED what she saw/heard and wanted to book me immediately for her upcoming gala event. My music is her cup of tea RIGHT NOW! Keep taking shots. Keep trying teas. You may never meet the people you're perfect to help, inspire or serve otherwise. With heart-filled gratitude, Ashley 
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Opportunity Overload1/8/2024 Pardon me while I catch my breath! December is always a busy month for musicians, but this year was one of the most jam-packed I've had in a while. I've labeled it "Opportunity Overload." Have you ever experienced that? When lots of things/projects/events you've been working on for a while all seem to come together around the same time? Mix that in with the normal holiday season festivities and it can be exhilarating...yet exhausting. This is why I'm purposely taking things slowly here in the first quarter of 2024. A handful of selective gigs, lots of quality time with family, and prioritizing some exciting new (and comfort-zone-busting) personal adventures for this year--one of them being that I'm finally learning how to cook (as a Louisianian, my inability to whip up a tasty meal for friends or family has always felt like big hole in my cultural skills, so here's to finally learning to enjoy the simple basics!). But before I dive 100% into 2024, here's a little recap of December: Thank you to everyone who came to the "Home for the Holidays Concert"--my solo debut with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra! What a dream come true to make beautiful music with so many talented musicians and an entire string section! A couple weeks later I also got to cantor for wedding with some of the symphony string players, so I look forward to playing with them more regularly at special events.  Then I headed to Lafayette to pre-record a live Christmas set with Dr. Daylight's Jazz Company. These songs aired in Acadiana on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Finally, I hit the road for one last Texas trip in 2023. Below is a video of one of my favorite songs--the closing "White Christmas" sing-along for Joe Burlison's Christmas Jazz Show at the Dosey Doe Big Barn. I hope your Christmas season was a lovely one and look forward to seeing you in 2024!
With heart-filled gratitude, Ashley AuthorAshley Orlando is a jazz vocalist/ukulele artist and joyologist on a mission to help 1 million women find their voice through music, inspiring stories, and communication skills. Archives
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