Jay Sanders is a guitarist, bassist, composer, producer, and bandleader based in Asheville, N.C. An avid musical explorer with an insatiably curious mind, his music seamlessly fuses jazz, rock, blues, metal, and African influences with years of improvisational study. His compositions range from structured thematic works and soulful grooves to Americana reflections, global soundscapes, and experimental improvisations. He cites Sonny Sharrock, John McLaughlin, Bill Frisell, Dave Holland, Ornette Coleman, and John Hartford among his primary influences.

Jay is best known as the longtime bassist for Acoustic Syndicate, widely considered a progenitor of the jam and jamgrass scenes, and has performed with celebrated musicians including Ornette Coleman, Béla Fleck, Fred Wesley, Sam Bush, and Bernie Worrell throughout his career.

About the Album

Jay's first solo record as a guitar player is a musing on impermanence. Featuring seven original compositions and a tone poem dedicated to the Voyager spacecraft, Evanescent combines stylistic variations that explore the entirety of Jay's interests and influences into a smooth and satisfying story arc.

Released July 12, 2024, Evanescent features many celebrated musicians from Asheville's music scene, including longtime collaborators Steve Alford, Justin Ray, Jacob Rodriguez, Zack Page, Evan Martin, and Tyler Housholder. Globetrotting fiddle phenom Casey Driessen is also featured.

Critical Acclaim

German website eR eM praised the release, writing:

"With an eight-person line-up and an instrumentation that includes saxes, bass, drums, percussion and of course guitars, as well as a fiddle and a VO-96 synth, nine tracks with an enormous range were created...SANDERS and his ensemble present an astonishing range of styles and sounds. Not something you can just listen to casually, the thing requires attention—but it's worth it. Wonderful debut, which will hopefully be followed by many more examples of SANDERS' skills."

Track Listing & Credits

Side A:

0 - Ode To Voyager (01:21)

1 - Morningtide (04:09)

2 - Woosel's Blues (04:12)

3 - Libby's Theme (06:03)

4 - Krekel (03:37)

 

Side B:

5 - Le Cacodaemon (06:04)

6 - Flyswatter (04:13)

7 - Evanescent (06:47)

Personnel:

Jay Sanders - Guitars, Vo-96 Acoustic Synthesizer & Effects

Steve Alford - Saxophone & Contralto Clarinet

Justin Ray - Trumpets, Flugelhorns & Vocals

Jacob Rodriguez - Saxophones

Casey Driessen - Fiddle

Zack Page - Basses & Effects

Evan Martin - Drums

Tyler Housholder - Percussion

Production Credits:

All songs composed and arranged by Jay Sanders, © Mindtonic Music, BMI

Horn arrangements by Justin Ray

Produced by Jay Sanders

Associate Production by Justin Ray

Recorded at Crossroads Studio, Arden, NC

Engineered by Clay Miller

Post Production at Deerview Labs, Asheville, NC

Mixed by Julian Dreyer & Jay Sanders, Asheville, NC

Mastered by Piper Payne, Neato Mastering, Nashville, TN

 

Jay Sanders plays Swart and Mesa/Boogie Amplifiers

 

Contact: mindtonicmusic.com | [email protected]

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