Cleveland.com's coverage centers on the release of "Closure," the lead single from Sean Mason's debut album, The Southern Suite, now available on streaming platforms alongside a performance video showcasing the live interplay of Mason's quintet. The album itself follows on October 27, 2023, through Blue Engine Records, Jazz at Lincoln Center's in-house label.
The piece introduces Mason as a rising talent backed by both Wynton and Branford Marsalis, with compositions that blend the elegance of his native North Carolina with the energy of his adopted New York City. On "Closure," Mason is described as working through duality, using the song to claim creative freedom on his own terms while still honoring the musical ancestors he draws from, its gospel-nostalgic feel built on swing rhythm layered with classical counterpoint.
The coverage also traces the album back to the first rehearsal of Mason's handpicked quintet, Tony Glausi, Chris Lewis, Felix Moseholm, and Domo Branch, whose immediate chemistry led the group to record on the spot. Mason describes the finished project as sitting between renaissance and street culture, each song marking a deliberate break from the traditionalism he once felt pressured to follow, the work of a Charlotte native who taught himself piano at 13 and now leads the touring Sean Mason Quartet.
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Cleveland.com is the digital home of Northeast Ohio's largest news organization, covering news, entertainment, and culture for the Cleveland metro area, as well as statewide Ohio coverage. Its entertainment desk regularly rounds up new music releases across genres.
ALSO AVAILABLE
The Southern Suite is a versatile piece of music, available in multiple formats including vinyl records, compact discs, and sheet music for musicians of all levels. Students enrolled in relevant courses or programs are entitled to a special discount. To stay informed about new releases, upcoming performances, or related news, subscribe to Sean's mailing list.
FOLLOW SEAN MASON
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Facebook: Sean Mason Official
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Spotify: Sean Mason
RESOURCES
Official Website: seanmason.net
Stream the Album: Listen on Spotify
Original Source: Read the announcement on Cleveland.com
