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"The
talent speaks for itself in the opening measures of this jazz album with
the hypnotic and soothing “Dancing on the Wall”. For those who enjoy the
legendary sawing of Stephan Grappelli, there is a worthy rival in the
form of George Mason. This album is aptly named “Life Colors” owing to
the sheer variety and scope of the tracks that Mason and his pals tackle.
The quick Latin-sway of “Little Brown Girl” instantly intoxicates the
listener. Mason does pay homage to the Immortals by covering “All Blues”
by Miles Davis and “Impressions” by John Coltrane, but being the true
talent that George Mason is, he molds those two tunes into his own image.
While there are modern, electric touches here, the sounds remain astonishingly
organic in their feel. For anyone harboring any doubts that the violin
can be a natural instrument in genre of jazz, then look no further than
George Mason and prepare to be floored." Review by John Lane for
Ear Candy |
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Buy a t-shirt or a mug at George's Merchandise Store at Cafe Shops. |
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Jazz. Astonishingly yet again in our search for creative musicians , we have struck gold. Hold the door for George Mason people! He's coming through! A special treat is in store for anyone picking up this release. Long overdue, this CD represents a long lost session recorded in 1993 and features some of the finest jazz you'll run into today. Heavy weight players include: George Mason, Bill Caldwell, Mark Harris, Terry Waddell and James Mylenbush. All songs but two are penned by George Mason. Recorded from midnight to 4 a.m. in one sitting with no overdubs. This is history in the making.
All
songs written, arranged & copywritten by George Mason * except 4. all
blues - miles davis & 7. impressions - john coltrane
"From the opening track, ‘Dancing On The Wall’ Mason literally soars through his compositions with dazzling dexterity ably abetted by the company of light-fingered pianist James Mylenbush and Mark Harris’ elastically propulsive bass. Mason also manages to write memorable themes which he and his comrades explore with invention and subtlety. Mason takes off on some stellar improvisations. The cd ends with another breath of fresh air, aptly titled, ‘A Vision Of April’ in which the violin and piano tease every spring-like nuance out of the yearningly romantic melody. It is more than a fitting way to end a recording that is full of highlights and one that I will no doubt be playing to destruction." - Paul Donnelly "Recorded in one late night, four hour session in 1993, violinist George Mason’s Life Colors is only now seeing the light of day. And that’s a good thing, because Mason is a solid player with one foot planted in the traditions of mainstream jazz, while the other is in a more contemporary form. Aside from Mason’s infectious playing, the other surprise of the recording is bassist Mark Harris, a solid accompanist who can also drive a tune, as he does in the funky title track, which moves the album into a more contemporary vein. Positive, upbeat and well-played, Life Colors is a recording that shows the versatility of its leader, and also introduces Mark Harris as a bassist to watch; hopefully another ten years will not have to pass before Mason releases another recording." - John Kelman "The opener “Dancing on the Wall”, is a spirited waltz. After a unison violin/tenor lead, the tune serves to introduce us to the quintet. Waddell is especially supportive throughout. It is worth noting that Waddell has deep credentials in the Country & Western world. I can't say I hear any C&W influence on any cuts on this CD. Following Mason's theme statement and solo, KC favorite Bill Caldwell takes charge with a burning tenor solo on the Latin-flavored “Little Brown Girl.” He also provides tasty punctuation as Mason takes the tune out. Mason's violin is outstanding, with a pure tone and lines not unlike a saxophonist's), and Harris provides bass support and also feeds sustained chords to Mason, with a sound reminiscent of Philip Catherine's support on Dexter Gordon's unique “Something Different.” It's a nice sound. The programming on the CD is quite varied and flows well. Those who enjoy jazz violin and Bill Caldwell should enjoy." - Roger Atkinson, Jam magazine
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George searches ideas from the vast world of music around him leaning on such influences as: Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Herb Ellis and Joe Pass; including Kenny Baker who played with Bill Monroe, but lists his greatest influence as John Coltrane. Presently gigging venues, events and jazz festivals in the great state of Mississippi, George Mason has performed in a variety of contexts over his long career creating arrangements for Bob Hope, the Vicki Lawrence TV show, the Osmonds, the Lettermen and Andy Williams. George is primarily self-taught and has played on many recordings including a Moffatt album and sessions with Bob Milsap. To drop a few more names, George has gigged with Walfredo Reyes, Bobby Vinton, Freddie Hart, Stonewall Jackson and Tommy Overstreet. George has some great memories doing over 100 shows with Rich Little and is busy collecting more with his constant commitment to live performance and free jazz.
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