Richard Ashby - Charlton Road (2024)

Charlton Road is the latest album from New Zealand native and versatile guitarist, Richard Ashby. Now based in Sydney, Australia, Ashby (according to his website) “has been working as a musician and teacher for over twenty years. After relocating to Sydney in 2008, he has established himself as a performer, composer and educator. Performing regularly in several established groups and as a freelance guitarist, Ashby specializes in jazz, blues, world, and popular music. He has performed throughout Australia and New Zealand both as a sideman and as a featured artist. Ashby also regularly works as an accompanist and recording musician in Sydney.”

In addition, Ashby “has spent the past decade working as an educator, and he’s particularly passionate about guitar teaching and guitar ensembles.”

Ashby’s one-pager states that he hopes to captivate blues audiences with Charlton Road following the success of his 2022 release, Arkadia Blues. That album enjoyed a three-month run on the Australian Blues & Roots airplay charts. In addition, Arkadia Blues made the UK Blues Broadcasters Top 25. Blues Blast readers can reference the March 29, 2023 album review for more details.

Ashby wrote and recorded all the tracks for Charlton Road with mixing by Scottie Christie. For this latest project—found on the album’s one-pager—Ashby “showcases a captivating blend of instrumental guitar-driven music, steeped in the blues yet infused with elements of Nashville-country picking, soul-jazz, funk, and rock.”

The album kicks off with “Might As Well,” an up-tempo jazzy number that highlights that Nashville-country picking by Ashby. “Better Get Your Ducks in a Row” continues that expert electric finger-picking with a driving bass beat. Funk, in the form of terrific keyboard play, is evident on “Boiled Eggs,” which has a great refrain and backbeat.

The album’s title track, “Charlton Road,” is a nod to those electrified honky tonk tunes that one might hear on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas or along Broadway in Nashville. Next up is “The Super Song” that’s a blues rockin’ number with enough soul to get listeners out onto the dance floor. Funk, soul, and a driving bass keeps the party going with “Squish Squash.” Featuring Ashby’s guitar solos, this is one of the album’s strongest numbers.

Charlton Road ends with “Anaconda Squeeze,” another hard-driving rock blues number that pulls out all of the stops.

Richard Ashby fans won’t be disappointed in his latest album and new converts should make Charlton Road part of their blues music playlists.