Ashé Records presents Searching For A Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo), a remarkable Latin jazz album by the legendary GRAMMY®-nominated percussionist Sammy Figueroa, featuring GRAMMY®-winning Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the dynamic Latin GRAMMY®-winning Cuban vocalist Aymée Nuviola. Produced by multiple GRAMMY®-nominated producer Rachel Faro, Figueroa’s first album in nearly a decade is dedicated to the memory and music of his father, the late romantic singer Charlie Figueroa.

Ashé Records is proud to release True To Love by Portland-based jazz singer/songwriter Anandi. Recorded in 2013, this recording combines carefully curated covers such as Horace Silver's "Peace" and Benny Golson's "Whisper Not" with original songs such as the clever and heartfelt title track "True To Love." Accompanied by some of Portland's finest musicians, including the consummate pianist Randy Porter, Anandi inhabits these songs with her beautiful voice and wise phrasing.

Portland-based singer/songwriter Anandi, in collaboration with pianist/programmer/producer Greg Goebel, offers a collection of socially conscious, contemplative songs of uncommon beauty and depth. Anandi’s expressive and beautiful voice delivers lyrics with a strong sense of wakefulness, ranging from the complexity of love to an homage to Nelson Mandela to the uplifting title track, inspired by the homeless crisis in her hometown, which encourages us to find “A Better Way” in a world of suffering.

Anandi first discovered producer Greg Goebel’s talents when she heard his song ‘Rainy City’ on Portland’s local jazz station and through his work as a producer and bandleader for the Portland-based superstar Gino Vanelli. When Anandi and Greg found themselves running in the same Portland music circles, it was inevitable that they would agree to collaborate, recording a three-song demo at Greg’s home studio...and then Covid happened.

Like so many other artists, the opportunity for introspection provided by the pandemic lockdown led to a rebirth of creativity and reflection on her life’s path. Newly inspired, she decided to resume her career as a singer/songwriter and to record a new album of original songs. Committed to creating her next recording with Greg, what started as just a few tracks soon became a new project.

The result is an album of uncommon beauty and depth. Greg Goebel’s arrangements surround Anandi’s beautiful voice in this collection of meaningful ballads, heartfelt anthems, passionate chants, and contemplative soul. Anandi’s well-crafted songs contain a sense of wisdom and poetry rarely encountered in today's pop music. Except for a guest appearance by saxophonist Adrian Baxter on a beautiful version of Jim Pepper’s cult classic “Witchi-tai-to,” there are only two creators on this album, and the results are brilliant.

The title track, “A Better Way,” speaks to homelessness, poverty, and the need to uplift those who suffer; on "Truth, Peace & Solitude," she rouses us to bring balance to our body, mind & soul; "Mandela" praises a great leader and his aspiration. Other songs, such as “Don’t Go To Bed Angry,” “Surrender To Me,” and “Pleasure With The Pain,” speak to the complexity of love relationships.

With a name that means bliss in Sanskrit (as Anandi explains, “my parents were hippies”), one could easily infer that Anandi’s music would conjure up sounds and images of somnolent mellowness. But this isn’t “New Age” music. Anandi’s songs have a strong sense of wakefulness, with poignant lyricism and melodic sophistication that invite multiple listens and sharing.