In a review for JAZZIZ Discovery, critic James Rozzi frames the title of Sean Mason's second release as a leader as pointing in two directions at once: a deliberate move away from the overproduction dominating much of contemporary music, and a departure from a strand of jazz newcomers whose work, in Rozzi's words, seems to require a PhD to understand what they're trying to communicate. He credits Mason's quintet, tenor saxophonist Chris Lewis, trumpeter Tony Glausi, bassist Felix Moseholm, and drummer Domo Branch, with a willingness to lean into retro grooves that swing from the rafters rather than chase novelty for its own sake.
Rozzi notes the album's eight tunes were rehearsed and memorized ahead of the two-day session, letting the band improvise freely once they hit record, an approach he calls easy on the ears at first pass, though a closer listen reveals real harmonic sophistication across extended song forms.
He singles out opener "Rediscovery" for its simple unison horn lines set against interesting chord changes, with Chris Lewis's tenor entering on a fast, hard-swinging four that Rozzi hears echoing mid-century stylist Gene Ammons, and "Secrets," which he compares to Horace Silver's classic "Strolling."
“A close listen reveals a bounty of sophistication.” — JAZZIZ
"Boneback" is read as a medium New Orleans second-line strut, while the bossa "Duende" carries shades of the jazz standard "Pensativa," and closing ballads "Open Your Heart" and "Kiss Me" are called equally evocative. Rozzi frames it all as a pursuit of a goal he feels is overlooked in jazz criticism: absolute charm.
ABOUT A BREATH OF FRESH AIR ALBUM
A Breath of Fresh Air was built on a specific kind of preparation: Sean Mason and his quintet, Tony Glausi on trumpet, Chris Lewis on tenor saxophone, Felix Moseholm on bass, and Domo Branch on drums, rehearsed and internalized all eight songs by ear before ever stepping into Bunker Studios in Brooklyn, so that once the tape started rolling over two days in late December 2024, the band could improvise freely rather than read from a chart. Mason wrote and produced every track himself, drawing on gospel, Latin rhythm, and New Orleans street parade as the record traces a personal arc of rediscovery. Taylor Christian Records released the album October 24, 2025, alongside a short film, a recording-session video series, and a photo essay.
ABOUT JAZZIZ DISCOVERY
JAZZIZ Discovery is the digital arm of JAZZIZ, a jazz publication that has covered the genre since 1979, continuing that focus through member-exclusive reviews and features.
RESOURCES
Official Website: seanmason.net
Stream the Album: Listen on Spotify
Original Source: Read the review on JAZZIZ Discovery
