MAS Presents: Sean Mason (solo jazz piano)
This performance is part of MAS Presents’ The Roots of Jazz series — a celebration of the rich history and lasting legacy of jazz in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, made possible with support from the Five Points Jazz Grant.
Tickets on sales August 7th, 2025 | All ages welcome
Doors @ 7:00 PM | Music @ 8:00 PM
RIYL: Charles Mingus, Bill Evans, Count Basie
The quiet click of footsteps toward the piano bench, a hush before the first note — the weight of Southern history and the buoyancy of jazz tradition hang in the air.
With a sound rooted in tradition and driven by innovation, pianist and composer Sean Mason is one of the most exciting voices in jazz today. A rising star from Charlotte, North Carolina, Mason has earned acclaim for his original compositions and fresh takes on classic jazz, blending deep musicality with a wide stylistic range.
Sean has collaborated with Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride, and Catherine Russell; contributed to Broadway productions such as Hadestown and Phantom of the Opera; and leads the Sean Mason Quartet, an ensemble praised for its dynamic energy and inventive arrangements.
His path in jazz reflects a rare combination of talent and forward-thinking vision, with each release pushing boundaries and redefining expectations. Sean’s work is set to leave a lasting impact — captivating audiences and inspiring fellow musicians with his dedication to the ever-evolving spirit of jazz.
Sean’s debut album, The Southern Suite (2023), drew praise for its soulful elegance and modern edge featuring infectious, melodic compositions that reflect both his North Carolina roots and the vibrant energy of New York City, where he currently resides.
Reflecting on the album Mason explains: “This album is situated at the intersection of renaissance and street culture. Each song represents a deviation from traditionalism and the cultural norms that I often felt forced to conform to, leading me to embrace the convergence of such paradoxical concepts and embody them through the musical language.”
In 2024, Sean collaborated with poet Mahogany L. Browne on Chrome Valley, an ambitious musical essay on the Black experience in America. The album grapples with some of the most potent social justice issues in the collective American consciousness.
And most recently, Sean released My Ideal (2024) with Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell
The album traces the evolution of jazz from early homages to James P. Johnson and Fats Waller to tributes that explore the intersection of jazz and popular music through Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.
Capturing a powerful and intimate musical dialogue, My Ideal earned the artists a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2025.
Join us on October 2 for Sean Mason’s highly anticipated Denver debut.
“When Sean Mason speaks about music, you can hear the notes falling into place. The cadence of his ideas unfolds with deliberate tempo, each exploring and resolving tension like an inspired chord progression.” – Rochester International Jazz Festival