The new album “Leaving Is Believing” by Ashby Frank highlights the breadth of his creative talent. With over a decade and a half of experience, Frank has built a strong reputation as a singer, songwriter, and mandolinist, and this album is his first full-length release for the Mountain Home Music Company. It showcases Frank’s growth as an artist and his ability to bring together different elements of his musical identity into one cohesive piece of work.
The album is a musical mosaic, featuring Frank’s expertise in various genres, from bluegrass to country to folk. Fans of Frank’s previous work with bands such as Junior Sisk, Dale Ann Bradley, and Lindley Creek, will be pleasantly surprised to see his talents as a singer. Those who have seen him perform with Mountain Heart and Jerry Douglas’ Earls of Leicester will also be impressed by Frank’s versatility as a musician.
Throughout the album, Frank collaborates with several renowned musicians, including Jerry Douglas, Ronnie Bowman, Jason Carter from the Travelin’ McCourys, and John Cowan, to name a few. The album opens with “Any Trouble,” featuring Frank’s bandmates from Mountain Heart and the Likely Culprits, and closes with a cover of Tom Paxton’s “Where I’m Bound,” featuring Bowman, Cowan, and Jim VanCleve.
Despite the impressive lineup of musical guests, “Leaving Is Believing” is undoubtedly Frank’s album, showcasing his artistic vision and his ability to bring together all of his musical experiences into one project. It is a testament to Frank’s unique style and his ability to seamlessly combine traditional and modern elements of various genres. With “Leaving Is Believing,” Frank has created a musical piece that is both focused and multilayered, making it a must-listen for anyone who appreciates good music.
“I started my first professional road gig as a musician the week before I turned 16 years old, and I’ve spent most of my time since then either behind a microphone or traveling to get to another one,” Frank recalls. “When I decided to make this album, I knew I wanted to gather songs that meant something to me and represented my musical journey. I also wanted to make sure that I recorded a variety of songs, including a couple of the more quirky tunes that I’ve been known to write. I am so fortunate to have Brandon Bostic as a co-producer and engineer on this project, because he saw and heard what I wanted to do from day one. We were able to include so many of my amazing musician friends, and they brought these songs to life in a way that I couldn’t have imagined before. I am so excited to share this album with everyone. I couldn’t be more proud of the entire project.”
Author: World Music Central News Room
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