Byron Asher's Skrontch Music

Biography

Byron Asher's Skrontch Music is a large ensemble project led by clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer Byron Asher, based in New Orleans. Raised in Maryland, Asher relocated to New Orleans in 2011, quickly becoming an integral figure in the city’s creative music scene. Skrontch Music was conceived as a platform to explore the intertwined histories of jazz in New Orleans and the socio-political context of the American South, particularly focusing on the legacy of Jim Crow and the blues as a form of resistance. The ensemble’s debut album, 'Byron Asher’s Skrontch Music' (2019), is a five-movement suite for a ten-piece ensemble that weaves together contemporary composition, collective improvisation, archival sound collage, and historical texts, including excerpts from the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court ruling. The project originated from Asher’s research at the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University, where he delved into oral histories and archival material to better understand the roots of the jazz tradition he performed.

Skrontch Music draws its name from a little-known swing-era dance step popularized by Duke Ellington in the late 1930s, symbolizing the ensemble’s approach of honoring tradition while pushing forward. The group’s second album, 'Lord, when you send the rain' (2024), released on Sinking City Records, meditates on the blues as a Black radical tradition rooted in the Mississippi Delta and its central role in the development of jazz. This work features sound collages with archival interviews and samples from figures such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Bessie Smith, and Ma Rainey. Supported by prestigious fellowships and grants, Skrontch Music has performed across the Deep South, including a tour funded by South Arts, and is recognized for its innovative blending of historical research, social commentary, and adventurous jazz composition.

Fun Facts

• The name 'Skrontch Music' is derived from a swing-era dance step featured by Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club in the late 1930s.
• The ensemble’s debut album incorporates sound collage and primary source texts, including excerpts from the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court case.
• The project’s research phase involved extensive work at the Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University, digging into oral histories and archival materials.
• Skrontch Music’s second album features samples of historic voices, including civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer and blues legends Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Duke Ellington - Stylistic influence; the ensemble's name and conceptual approach are inspired by Ellington's 'Skrontch' dance and his legacy of blending jazz tradition with innovation. (Ellington's 1938 'Skrontch' recording and Cotton Club performances) [1930s (historical influence)]

Key Collaborators

• Doug Garrison - Drummer and ensemble member in Skrontch Music (Skrontch Music (2019), Lord, when you send the rain (2024)) [2019–present]
• James Singleton - Bassist and ensemble member in Skrontch Music (Skrontch Music (2019), Lord, when you send the rain (2024)) [2019–present]
• Steve Glenn - Sousaphonist and ensemble member in Skrontch Music (Skrontch Music (2019), Lord, when you send the rain (2024)) [2019–present]
• Oscar Rossignoli - Pianist and ensemble member in Skrontch Music (Skrontch Music (2019), Lord, when you send the rain (2024)) [2019–present]
• Emily Frederickson - Trombonist and ensemble member in Skrontch Music (Skrontch Music (2019), Lord, when you send the rain (2024)) [2019–present]
• Peter J Bowling - Electronic musician contributing sound collage and archival samples (Lord, when you send the rain (2024)) [2024]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. The Problem With Mississippi (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
2. New Louisiana Hoodoo Blues (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
3. The Break (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
4. Re: Backwater Blues (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
5. Duet (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
6. Threads (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
7. Ma Rainey's Barrelhouse Blues (Lord, When You Send The Rain)
8. Papa likes his outside women, Mama likes her outside men (Lord, When You Send The Rain)

External Links

• Spotify