As a Composer and Pianist, Ashby has spent much time in New York and credits that experience with adding a certain density to his, already aggressive and edgy, demeanor on piano and certainly within his compositions. He is a native of Richmond Virginia, raised on the city's Northside, and He has B.A. in Music Education/Jazz Studies. Currently, Ashby has released five albums. His compositions for small ensemble to full orchestra all exhibits a certain energetic and restless spirit. 
 He is the Founder and former CEO of the Muse Creative Workspace, Founder and Former Artistic Director for The Richmond Youth Jazz Guild. Currently Ashby is a composer with the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop in New York. In 2018 he became a Congressionally Recognized History Maker for Creating Quality Educational Opportunities through the Muse Creative Workspace and the Richmond Youth Jazz Guild. During his career Ashby has received an artist fellowship for Music Composition from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and his original works for small ensemble and orchestra have been commissioned by Meet the Composer and New Music USA.