Ashwander was resident composer and musical director for New York's Paper Bag Players, and his work for the group garnered a New York State Governor's Award, as well as honors from The American Alliance for Theater and Education. Among his other works is his revue Particular People, which played at La MaMa in 1995.

Among the pieces on the disc are "Astor Place Rag-Waltz," "The Brooklyn Stop and Start," "Chili Billy," "Daybreak in Alabama," "Perdido Bay Moon Rag," "Street Corner Pierrot," and "The Waterloo Rag," as well as "Friday Night," which is used in the repertoires of both the repertories of The Canadian National Ballet and The Royal Ballet of London.

For more information about the Sunshine and Shadows CD, click here.