A Solo Sport5/30/2026 Sometimes I love being able to accompany myself. Other times I wonder if it holds me back. When I get booked for jazz gigs, it is MOSTLY as a solo artist. Why? Because when I play solo, I can squeeze into almost any tiny space--the corner of a restaurant, a downtown sidewalk, into another band as a vocalist, etc. I can fit more budgets. And I only have 1 schedule to check! Just kidding, I actually have about 4 schedules to check because there's also Ethan's busy toddler schedule (summer swim lessons!!!), my husband's schedule, and the schedule of whoever will need to watch the babe if he can't). As a solo artist, it is definitely convenient to have only 1 main creative opinion to appease and 1 set list to pull from. That can make things easy in many ways. On the flip side, I often find it more musically stimulating to play with another artist (or several) who can do things that I can't; who knows new songs it might be cool to try; who can add in their own sonic ideas to the mix and fill out the space in a different way. Playing with others makes me listen more and creates a musical conversation that I don't always know the end to. I love the excitement of wondering where a song will end up and following its lead :) That's why I love taking requests from the public when I do play by myself. It's also why I enjoy playing for fun with community groups like St. Alban's Ukulele Orchestra. 1970s music isn't my forté, so until we started rehearsing, I had never heard about 65% of the music we did for our spring ukulele concert this month. But I can say that it all turned out pretty "groovy," and the audience LOVED IT, too. Here's to many more musical adventures (solo and group-sized) to come! With gratitude, Ashley  St. Alban's Ukulele Orchestra - "Music of the '70's" Spring Concert - May 2026
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Time Traveler's Whiplash5/13/2026 Saturday night was a beautiful dream. The weather had been terrible all weekend with constant rain soaking all of southeast Louisiana, so I honestly did not expect a large crowd at "The Songs She Sings." But y'all showed up in force, and it was incredible! The Manship staff even had to pull out a few more tables/chairs to accommodate everyone. THANK YOU for your support! We received lots of positive feedback about the song selections, stories, the musicianship and even the energy in the room. The following comment in particular was one that touched me deeply: "I am so so glad we did not let the gloomy weather keep us home...your show was phenomenal. You have a beautiful voice and a wonderful style of showmanship making us feel special and seen just by being in your audience." That last line especially means so much to me. Because it takes a lot of time and effort to craft not just a collection of songs but an immersive, musical experience that brings the audience on a journey. And anytime I curate a show of my own, THAT is always my goal. I look forward to continuing to grow with you on this whimsical, warm, sometimes wacky but always worthwhile journey of creativity and self-expression. Now this week is all about FUN and TIME TRAVELING because on Tuesday I performed a 1920s-focused traditional jazz set with the Florida Street Blowhards, and this Thursday at 6pm my uke and I will be getting groovy with "Music of the '70's" by the St. Alban's Ukulele Orchestra. (Please join us at St. Alban's Chapel on the LSU Campus if you're free!) With gratitude, Ashley In case you missed it, here's an audience-perspective clip from "The Songs She Sings" Saturday night:  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
June 2026
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