STATE OF THE ART
OUT OCTOBER 16, 2026

55 Days

12 Hours

58 Minutes

27 Seconds

Sean Mason · 2026 · The New Album

State of the Art

Sean Mason returns with his third album as a leader. Out October 16 on Taylor Christian Records.

Taylor Christian Records (TCR-003)

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Side A

Secure the Bag Run time: 6:30
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Side B

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Vinyl Record

4 editions available

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CD Edition

Standard + signed editions

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Digital Album

MP3 + digital liner notes options

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"Secure the Bag"

Official Lead Sheet

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Sean Mason

“Secure the Bag” (Official Music Video)

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About the record

The title State of the Art was conceived while thinking about the process of making an album. It considers what it means to make an album in a time where technology blurs the line between what is real and artificial. The phrase “state of the art” carries a double meaning: first, it refers to the highest standard of achievement recognized in a field. But it can also be considered more directly: what is the state of the art itself?

For better or worse, the modern recording world seems pointed towards a perfect product. The line between performance and production has become so blurred that it’s often hard to decipher what was being played live in real time, or whether there were any human beings inside the recording at all. We shouldn’t be anti-technology nor anti-AI, as these tools can be incredibly useful and educational, but I also believe we are entering an age where transparency matters deeply. Listeners deserve to know how something was made.

Personnel

Piano: Sean Mason
Trumpet: Tony Glausi
Tenor Saxophone: Chris Lewis
Bass: Domo Branch
Drums: Felix Moseholm

Credits

Producer: Sean Mason
Recording & Mixing: Todd Whitelock
Mixing Supervisor: Branford Marsalis
Mastering: Mark Wilder
Art Direction: Amelie Lehoux
Photography: Alex Lockett, EBAR, Lawrence Sumulong
Label: Taylor Christian Records — TCR-001

Front Sleeve

Vinyl LP

Sides A & B · Tracks 1–4

Vinyl LP

Gatefold & Inner Sleeve

Vinyl LP

CD packaging

Compact Disc

Digipak & Booklet

Compact Disc

Domo Branch

Trumpet

“There was nowhere to hide, and that’s the point. When Sean looks up from the keys, you already know where the tune is going.”

On Recording Live In One Room

Leandre Douglas

Trumpet

“There was nowhere to hide, and that’s the point. When Sean looks up from the keys, you already know where the tune is going.”

On Recording Live In One Room

Reyna Nunez

Drums

“He’d send a voice memo humming the melody, and somehow that told you more than a chart ever could. By the time we hit the studio, the music already felt like ours.”

On Learning The Tunes By Ear