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STATE OF THE ART
OUT OCTOBER 16, 2026

27 Days

21 Hours

04 Minutes

22 Seconds

State of the Art

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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Tracklist

47:10
Side A
  1. Secure the Bag 6:30
  2. A Good Day 5:03
Side B

All compositions by Sean Mason

Audio previews

Pre-Order STATE OF THE ART

Choose your format.

Pre-order State of the Art on vinyl, CD, or digital — or get the sheet music for “Secure the Bag.”

The Official Music Videos

Live From the Studio

Watch the official music videos from State of the Art, featuring Sean Mason on piano, Felix Moseholm on bass, Domo Branch on drums, and movement artists Reyna Nuñez and LeAndre Douglas.

Sean Mason

“Secure the Bag” (Official Music Video)

Browse The Music Videos

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

The Packaging

Vinyl · CD

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

The quintet, in their words

Domo Branch video thumbnail

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 video thumbnail

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 video thumbnail

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

Felix Moseholm video thumbnail

Felix Moseholm

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

Photos From the Studio

01/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

02/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

03/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

04/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

05/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

06/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

07/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong

08/08

The last pass at dusk

Lawrence Sumulong