BroadwayWorld carried the announcement of Sean Mason's debut album, The Southern Suite, set for release October 27, 2023, on Blue Engine Records, Jazz at Lincoln Center's in-house label. The piece coincided with the release of lead single "Closure" across streaming platforms, paired with a performance video capturing the live chemistry of Mason's quintet.
The announcement positions Mason as a rising talent already backed by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis, his sound blending the elegance of his native North Carolina with the sophistication of his adopted New York City. It frames "Closure" as Mason's way of working through duality, breaking from convention while still honoring the musical ancestors he draws from, with a gospel-rooted feel built at the intersection of swing rhythm and classical counterpoint.
The piece also traces the album's origin to the first rehearsal of Mason's handpicked quintet, Tony Glausi, Chris Lewis, Felix Moseholm, and Domo Branch, where the group's chemistry was immediate enough that they decided on the spot to record. Mason describes the album as sitting at the intersection of renaissance and street culture, with each song marking a deliberate break from the traditionalism he once felt pressured to follow, a bold artistic statement from a Charlotte native who taught himself piano at 13 and now leads the touring Sean Mason Quartet.
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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.
FOLLOW SEAN MASON
Instagram: @seanmason
TikTok: @seanmason_
Facebook: Sean Mason Official
YouTube: Sean Mason
X (Twitter): @seanmason
Spotify: Sean Mason
RESOURCES
Official Website: seanmason.net
Stream the Album: Listen on Spotify
Original Source: Read the announcement on BroadwayWorld
