Jazz at Lincoln Center's Press Room carried the official announcement of The Southern Suite, issued through Blue Engine Records on September 8, 2023, confirming the October 27 release date and opening pre-orders the same day the lead single "Closure" hit streaming platforms alongside its studio performance video.
The release describes Mason as a singular new voice already championed by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis, his writing blending North Carolina elegance with New York edge. On "Closure" specifically, Mason is quoted framing the track as a declaration of independence from any single influence, its gospel and swing elements sitting inside a structure built on classical counterpoint, a way of honoring his musical ancestors while still breaking from convention.
The announcement traces the album's origin to the first rehearsal of Mason's quintet, Tony Glausi, Chris Lewis, Felix Moseholm, and Domo Branch, where the group's chemistry was immediate enough after two songs that they stopped and agreed on the spot to record. It also recounts Branford Marsalis's own account of discovering Mason and recommending him to his brother Wynton, along with Mason's early run of New York residencies at Dizzy's and Smalls, his Juilliard studies, his spot in NPR's "Jazz Night in America" Youngbloods series, his contribution to Branford Marsalis's score for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and the spring 2023 Lincoln Center premiere of Chrome Valley with poet Mahogany L. Browne.
ABOUT JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
Jazz at Lincoln Center is a New York-based nonprofit organization dedicated to jazz performance, education, and advocacy, operating out of Frederick P. Rose Hall on Broadway. Blue Engine Records serves as the organization's in-house label, releasing recordings from its resident orchestra and affiliated artists, with press for this announcement handled by Missing Piece Group.
ALSO AVAILABLE
The Southern Suite is available on vinyl, CD, and sheet music, with a student discount for enrolled learners. For updates, subscribe to Sean's mailing list.
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RESOURCES
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Stream the Album: Listen on Spotify
Original Source: Read the release in Jazz at Lincoln Center's Press Room
