Jay Sanders is a guitarist, bassist, composer, producer, and bandleader based in Asheville, N.C. A stylistic virtuoso, Jay’s music is characterized by an effortless ability to fuse his jazz, rock, blues, metal, and African influences with years of improvisational study and training.

Evanescent is Jay's debut record as a bandleader. At once a musing on impermanence and a showcase of stylistic virtuosity, Evanescent showcases the quintessence of a prolific composer's writing. A natural tonal storyteller, each of Jay Sanders’ tunes weaves a unique tale while the record itself stages a complete journey of transformation from beginning to end.

Jay will be performing the music of Evanescent in addition to other original compositions with his Nonet featuring some of Western North Carolina's most prodigious jazz musicians.

Jay Sanders - Guitar, Synthesizer, & Effects
Justin Ray - Trumpet
Henry Candler - Trumpet
Steve Alford - Saxophone
Jacob Rodriguez - Saxophone
Will Boyd - Saxophone
Zack Page - Bass
Alan Hall - Drums
Tyler Housholder - Percussion

Evanescent opens with Ode to Voyager, a poetic imagining of cosmic sound as the Voyager spacecraft carry humanity’s message of hope far beyond the heliosphere. Composed in honor of Jay’s wife, Kathy, Morningtide is a dedication to the joy of morning sunrise over the sea. Jay partnered with former Michael Bublé trumpet master Justin Ray—himself a prolific composer and arranger—to realize Woosel’s Blues as a tight film noir. Jay’s pedigree in the bluegrass and acoustic music world is undeniable and he pays tribute to these roots through Libby’s Theme with the help of master fiddler Casey Driessen. A narrative of youthful exuberance, Krekel tells the story of three high school friends (and their drummer) who steal their parent’s minivan and set out in search of fireworks and rock-n-roll.

Side B begins with a pen and ink cartoon portrayed as psychedelic lounge music. Le Cacodaemon is the story of a waiflike creature—here represented by Steve Alford’s contralto clarinet—encountering a feverish and malevolent spirit somewhere in the depths of an abstruse forest. How it ends is open to interpretation. Flyswatter is where it all comes apart. As you chase the incipient midge around the house, desperately striving to allay the nuisance, the world dissolves around you in an esoteric and chaotic dance until you finally strike the mark. During the creation of this record, a tremendous amount of personal loss inspired Jay to cultivate a deep sense of gratitude for his influences and collaborators. Life is ephemeral, and the title track, Evanescent, explores this transient. The sound of Blues Dream era Frisell is undeniable as the interplay of great friends eventually resolves into a sense of peace and acceptance.

Jay has recorded more than two dozen records and performed in 47 U.S. states and six countries. He is also a composer who has worked with the ETHEL string quartet, Rational Discourse, and scored several independent films.

Jay is most commonly known as the bassist for Acoustic Syndicate. Widely considered one of the progenitors of the Americana music scene, Acoustic Syndicate spent 3 decades fusing southern roots music, bluegrass, rock and roll with a healthy dose of jazz and improvisation. They appeared at major festivals such as Bonnaroo and Farm Aid, and released eight records, including two for former roots-music stronghold Sugar Hill Records. Working within the Americana space, Jay has recorded with Jim Lauderdale and toured with the indefatigable Donna The Buffalo.

In 2013, Jay partnered with Steve Alford and Michael W Davis to form the E.Normus Trio. They released “Love & Barbiturates” to critical acclaim. “...this debut release that skirts the boundaries of jazz-rock, free-jazz and progressive metal-jazz. The jazz and improvisational elements accentuate most of these works, fueled by adrenaline rushes amid the trio's broad arsenal. […] It's all been done before in various ways, shapes and forms, but this band integrates numerous genre-based inferences into its repertoire. With asymmetrical doses of swing, rock, and Sanders' fuzzed-out psycho guitar licks, the music generates remembrances of New York City's vibrant downtown scene, at times drawing comparisons to John Zorn's Naked City ensemble.” wrote Glenn Astarita in All About Jazz.

Originally from Nashville, TN, Jay grew up surrounded by the immensity of Nashville's music scene. His early studies with Regi Wooten opened his mind to the concepts of fundamental vibration, sacred geometry, and the music of the spheres. Jay later moved to Knoxville, where he cultivated his curiosity through a series of extended conversations with former Sun-Ra drummer, Samurai Celestial. He formally studied music at Belmont University and the University of Tennessee.

Throughout his career Sanders has played with many of his heroes including Ornette Coleman, Hank Roberts, Bela Fleck, Ivan Neville, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Walter Wolfman Washington, Fred Wesley, Sam Bush, Raymond Weber, Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat, Bernie Worrel, Kirk Joseph, Vassar Clements, Casey Driessen, Jim Lauderdale, Tim O’Brien, Larry Keel and many more. He has studied with Reggie Wooten, E. Michael Harrington, Jerry Coker and countless other inspiring individual talents. He claims Sonny Sharrock, John McLaughlin, Bill Frisell, Dave Holland, Ornette Coleman, and John Hartford among his primary influences.

Beyond his work as a musician and producer, Jay is co-owner of the award-winning cocktail bar, Little Jumbo. Jay plays at Little Jumbo every Tuesday night with his quartet in addition to curating the weekly Monday night performances featuring some of the region’s most talented jazz musicians. He is currently producing a series of “Live at Little Jumbo” recordings to be released in 2024.