Sway — the debut album from Justin Pierce (Out now)
Sway album cover: Justin Pierce holding a tenor saxophone in front of a red stage curtain

SWAY

The debut album from Justin Pierce featuring Ashley Pierce

Out now

On air in more than twenty states, plus Canada, the UK, Italy, and Spain. NACC national jazz chart #22.

For your GRAMMY® consideration

Best Jazz Vocal Album
Best Jazz Performance: “All Blues”

The story behind the record

For twenty years, Ashley and I have made music on bandstands where the music’s real job is to soundtrack a moment between two people, like the couple on the dance floor who have forgotten anyone else is there. Sway is our attempt to bottle that feeling.

We met in college and have been husband and wife, and musical partners, ever since. We recorded these ten songs live in one afternoon in Dallas with three friends: pianist Sean Michael Giddings, bassist Young Heo, and drummer Matt Young.

The repertoire moves from a tender, waltzing “Moon River” to Miles Davis’s “All Blues” recast as a New Orleans second line, with a samba-driven “Meglio Stasera,” sung in Italian, along the way. We made this record to be lived with and danced to, to fill the room while dinner simmers and turn an ordinary evening into an occasion.

Justin and Ashley Pierce performing while a couple dances alone under vintage lanterns
Photography by Beau Raines at the historic Southside Preservation Hall, Fort Worth.
“Ashley’s voice is superb, consistently clear as a bell and the warmest I’ve heard in a while.” Brian Payne, Jazz Journal (UK)
“Pierce and his exceptional ensemble understand that honoring the tradition sometimes means giving it a good shake.” Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe
“‘Moon River’ and ‘L-O-V-E’ are standouts.” Tom Hull, Music Week

Jazz Journal Editor’s Pick · September 2026

Hear it live

Mon Oct 19 · 9 PM Central

Live interview on WZRD 88.3 Chicago

Sat Nov 21 · 4 PM

Jazz at Sledge, Sledge Distillery, Tolar, Texas