ASHÉ is a word of many meanings: blessings, energy, power, confidence  -- Ashé is dynamic, pure energy in motion.  Coincidentally, this term is found in the magical traditions of both Tibet and West Africa.   People, objects, music and ideas – if they’ve got “Ashe” they’ve got energy and power in the purest sense.

As the music and gods of Africa traveled to the Americas during the great slave importation, so did the word Ashé.  And as the music influenced and entered popular American culture, so too did “Ashé” enter the vocabulary of Cuba, Puerto Rico and Brazil.   

Ashé Records was formed in 1996 to present music from these same African roots.  Embarking on an incredibly rich musical journey, we released albums ranging from ceremonial Afro-Cuban chants to classic salsa to fusion jazz, recording both fresh new voices and established maestros.

Since the founding of Ashé Records the world itself has changed and so this is the moment to expand our vision, spread our wings and enlarge our horizons to include all music that embodies the qualities of Ashé.

In the spirit of “Ashé”, we want to keep the energy strong and moving, respecting ancient cultures while supporting innovation.  Besides our classic catalog of Afro-Caribbean music we are proud to present new releases offering modern fusions: electronica, singer/songwriters, trance, Cuban hip-hop and lounge music. 

We will also be presenting “endangered music” such as the Mapuche Indians from Patagonia, mbire music from Zimbabwe, gaita and calypso from Venezuela, music from Iraq and Afghanistan.

In this moment music represents a force that can bring unity, peace, education and respect to our world.  We at Ashé Records invite you to listen and feel the energy of Ashé.

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OUR TEAM

Ashé Records is the creation of four very special individuals:

Rachel Faro

Sammy Figueroa

Helge Sasse

Aaron C. Yeagle

RACHEL FARO (President): One of the music world’s few accomplished woman record producers, Rachel is also a singer/songwriter and composer.  It is her vision that created Ashé Records.

SAMMY FIGUEROA (A & R): One of the world’s premier percussionists, it is Sammy’s infallible ear that has discovered some of the best music on the label.  He has also co-produced several albums with Rachel Faro with artists such as Vocal Sampling, Yomo Toro and Cuarto Espacio.
 

AARON C. YEAGLE (Sales & Marketing, Webproducer):  Having worked for such prestigious organizations such as LIVE Home Entertainment and Vanguard Records, as well as managing Alula Records, Aaron concurrently operates XN28D Studios, a web and multi-media production company.  He now brings his 20+ years of music industry experience to Ashé Records.

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HISTORY

Ashé Records began as the Ashé Series on Xenophile/Green Linnet Records, a group of three records that represented the best in Cuban music.   Basically a producers’ signature label, it arose out a desire to be involved in the whole process of presenting this music, not just the creation of the recordings.  Rounder Records came forward and invited Ashé to be part of its group of Nationally Distributed Labels. In 1996 Ashé released the CD “Songs of Elegua”, an album recorded especially to debut the label,  classic Yomo Toro “Celebremos Navidad” and the amazing Cuban guitarist José Angel Navarro.