Todd Ashley Portrait

Todd Ashley From solo guitarist and composer to bandleader, Todd Ashley delivers some of the finest contemporary nylon-string jazz, smooth jazz and R&B tailored specifically for your event.

Over the last decade, Todd has performed throughout the country for corporate clients such as Coca Cola, Samsung, Pioneer, Ford Motor Company, Sysco Foods, AT&T and Toyota, to name a few, in venues ranging from outdoor arenas to conference centers and private homes. In the process, he has opened for artists such as The Temptations, Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, George Benson, The Rippingtons, and Chris Botti and others.

Todd was born and raised in Southern California. Unlike most of his young contemporaries who were inspired by rock and punk guitarists of the day, Todd found early musical inspiration in the improvisational playing of Pat Metheny and Pat Martino.

After graduating from high school, he spent a few years playing and touring with several SoCal rock and funk bands before heading to Musician's Institute where he studied jazz guitar with the likes of Joe Diorio, Jeff Richman and Joe Elliott and earned a degree from Guitar Institute of Technology. It was there Todd began to develop his unique "ruff jazz nylon-string style" reminiscent of his influences Steve Oliver, Ken Navarro and Earl Klugh. He currently studies with jazz guitar heavy Jimmy Bruno.

Todd's latest CD, "Funky Nylon," a rich, sonic smorgasbord of original contemporary jazz and smooth jazz, along with a unique arrangement of Black Orpheus was released in October, 2010 and features Todd on both guitar and mandolin, along with some of the top artists in Southern California including Will Donato, Baba Elefante, Rod Kokolj, Steve Madaio, and Jeff Stover. In addition, Todd plays keyboard, bass, guitar and sequences the drums on a handful of tracks. His first original CD, "Sedona,"—Todd describes it as "smooth jazz with an edge"—was released in 2003 and has been featured on the Weather Channel.



Sedona Reviews and Testimonials

" Todd Ashley's Funky Nylon delighted with uncompromising diversity. This musician deserves a bigger audience. "...

  Hans-Bernd Hulsmann...http://www.smooth-jazz.de/

" You guys were great! I heard nothing but positive reviews! "...

  Ken Millington...Director North America, Concours d' Elegance

" Todd Ashley has created an evocative contemporary jazz guitar album that is smooth, but more than a soundscape "...

  Bruce Fessier...Entertainment Editor, The Desert Sun

" Oh my! If you have not yet heard Todd Hodulik's music, you are in for a real treat. Part of it is his light touch on the guitar, whichever one he is playing at the moment ".

  Ed Munson...Editor, Desert Entertainer Magazine

" He achieves a pleasing, ear-catching sound by using a combination of 3 straight nylon and 3 steel-wound nylon strings on his guitar, as seen on the cover of his debut release, Sedona." "Sedona offers a refreshingly different sound. Hodulik is a fine player and composer, and he wrote or co-wrote all of the selections, with standout tracks being Isle of Indio, Ear Candy and Song for Ashley. The southwest feel throughout Sedona adds just the right flavor and creates an evocative, easy groove ".

  Linda Goshay....JazzNowInteractive.com

"Todd as well as the band Sedona were WONDERFUL! They did an amazing job and everyone loved them. I was very impressed! Thanks again for recommending Todd to us. Again they were an incredible trio to work with and made the wedding/reception spectacular."

  Chris Simants

" Sedona was very professional and perfect for our event. Everyone had a wonderful time. "

  Monica Herron....Toyota Corporation

"Todd, Everyone enjoyed your music, thank you. It was a perfect match"

  Daina Duke (wedding)