RAISE FUNDS FOR A 2nd CD MASTER (Jazz - Ragtime)

I am a composer – pianist – who made most of his recordings in the 1990s. I was the first person to record the virtuosic piano ragtime of composer Robin Frost in 1992. Two years later, I was the first pianist to record and release an entire compact disc album of contemporary piano rags. Gramophone magazine said of that second album, “…a remarkably talented pianist…as a performer Davidson has few peers…”

I wish to re-release my compact disc entitled, "On The Highwire: Piano Rags, Waltzes, and Tangos by Donald Ashwander," recorded in 1998 and originally released on the Capstone label in 2000. Donald Ashwander (1929 – 1994) was not just one of the most extraordinary and unjustifiably ignored contemporary ragtime composers he was also a good personal friend. Donald recorded an album by this title in 1989. He sent me a cassette copy of “questionable” audio quality in 1991, because the company for which he recorded it went out of business and refused to return the original tapes to Donald.

In order to re-release my album, I need to employ engineer and sound restoration specialist, Doug Benson to create new masters using the newest digital technology.

Doug is one of the leading sound restoration experts in the world, and was responsible for the critically acclaimed re-release of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings album on the Rivermont label – the originals being on 78 rpm records from the 1920s.

After Donald died, I realized that his work had never been released. So at my own expense I recorded my own version of Donald’s album and released it on the Capstone label. The rights to my 2000 album were recently released back to me, and now is the time to re-release it. Several recent listeners have told me that they feel the album is of an extremely high quality and deserves recognition.

You can read more about Donald in this article I wrote about him: https://syncopatedtimes.com/searching-for-donald-ashwander-a-tribute/

While Donald’s original album was eventually discovered and released by his family in 2012, I believe that my re-creation of his album lives and breathes a life of its own and has significant historic value.

Of my version of Donald’s album, American Record Guide (May / June 2001) stated the following: “…And does Ashwander have an inventive voice of his own! And does Davidson have style! …I left a few [tracks] out, not because they’re lesser, but to avoid being repetitive with praise. The music’s superb. The engineering is excellent…and the performances have consummate style…”

Here are a few tracks from my original 2000 Capstone album:

https://youtu.be/axK9a47ESIY (on the highwire)

https://youtu.be/3FhOe8pP5sk (old streets)

I estimate the cost for the extensive work needed on this album and some of the manufacturing costs to be USD $1,000 (approximately $1,400 in CAD). Once this new master is complete, it will be released in due course through RIVERMONT RECORDS.

Any donor committing to more than $200 will receive two mp3s of their choice via email, from the playlist of the eventual compact disc.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Matthew de Lacey Davidson