John-Alex Mason roots his music within a love of pre-War blues styles and his passionate shows weave poignant originals with interpretations of rare songs from America’s past. "Time Will Come" Mason's third album will be released in April 2004. The record features the playing of Bill Rich (Taj Mahal Trio) on Bass, Chris Stongal on Drums, Jim Waddell ( Chris Daniels and The Kings) on Sax & Organ, and Gerry Hundt on Harmonica. The album's 13 songs feature 11 new tunes by Mason and covers of Blind Willie Johnson and Charlie Patton. Mason will again tour New England Solo in the Spring on each side of a European tour in March 2004. In 2001 Mason won the esteemed Crossroads Acoustic Blues Competition at the Telluride Blues Festival and has been invited back each year since to perform and teach workshops. Recently fans of Jimmie Vaughn, John Mayall & Joan Osborne have enjoyed Mason’s tunes when he opened for those artists. Mason endorses John Pearse Strings & National Guitars.
Press Info
Reviewer: Jeff Calvin- BLUES REVUE
John-Alex Mason’s Time Will Come, shows serious chops. Mason, an acoustic guitarist and singer wrote every song on the album- a fine batch of varied tunes from light-footed country shuffles “Going Out the Country” to more traditional Blues smokers “Rescue.” Mason’s a master at laid back intensity, and he has a great band. It’s recorded with extreme care, too – what a concept, eh?
“Those of us who were introduced to the blues via the unplugged route are always on the lookout for the next generation of acoustic artists. Where will the John Hammond or Paul Geremia come from? Will the music of Mississippi John Hurt, Blind Boy Fuller and Willie McTell be forgotten? Just when you begin to think that’s a possibility, along comes a nice surprise in the form of John-Alex Mason."
The latest Press can be read at cdbaby.com/jamason and johnalexmason.com
Influences
“Just about as pure a form of blues as you'll find anywhere, music that nobody has played or heard in a long while, especially not on this campus, but is a vital part of our cultural heritage.” -- Mid
Bio
John-Alex Mason roots his music within a love of pre-War blues styles and his passionate shows weave poignant originals with interpretations of rare songs from America’s past.
Colorado-born independent Blues singer/songwriter John-Alex Mason has been busy. The guitarist/vocalist is fresh off of a multi-date, multi-state tour spurred by the much anticipated release of his new CD Time Will Come (NJBM-003). He has recently performed at the Telluride Blues & Brews Festival, NEMO Boston, was chosen the most promising emerging artist at the King Biscuit Blues Festival (Helena, AR) and won best singer/songwriter at SpudFest2004 in Driggs, Idaho.
Time Will Come, Mason's third album, sounds off with thirteen tracks including eleven new originals by Mason as well as covers of Blind Willie Johnson and Charlie Patton. Seven of the songs feature Mason alone and acoustic. Though rooted firmly in pre-war Blues, the other six feature the playing of Bill Rich (Taj Mahal Trio) on bass, Chris Stongle (Chris Daniels and the Kings) on drums, Jim Waddell ( Chris Daniels and The Kings) on saxophone and organ, and Gerry Hundt (Hipshake, Nick Moss and the Flips Tops) on harmonica. The album is currently charting at stations across the country and debuted at #24 on the Living Blues National Radio Chart.
It was a story of automobiles, planes and trains when Mason left Colorado in early March for five weeks of intense music. John-Alex first drove to New England with shows along the way, jetted to England, then it was through the Chunnel to Belgium to start the European leg of his tour. Riding trains across the countryside, Mason played fifteen dates in Europe: one in Belgium, nine in Holland in as many days and finally five in England which included support slots for Hook Herrera as well as John Idan and the Yardbirds. Returning to New England, Mason finished the tour by playing college and coffeehouse shows in Maine, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This was Mason’s first tour to Europe and fourth on the East Coast. With the enthusiastic response of concert-goers, he is already planning his return in 2005.
Mason began his solo career in South Carolina and was quickly dubbed “Big John” by locals for his enormous stage presence and his “commanding Southern voice” as described by Blues Revue magazine. Dropping the moniker and moving back to his home state of Colorado, Mason recorded his debut album “Walking Tracks” and a second, “Mason & Hundt.” Both feature enlivening originals where Mason “always turns in vocals as compelling as his playing (Blues Revue)” and covers of Robert Johnson, Elizabeth Cotten, Bukka White, Charlie Patton and Mississippi John Hurt, artists Mason sites as fundamental influences.
In 2001 Mason won the esteemed Crossroads Acoustic Blues Competition at the Telluride Blues Festival and has been invited back each year since to perform and teach workshops. Recently fans of Robben Ford, Jimmie Vaughn, John Mayall, Joan Osborne, Pat Green and Alana Davis have enjoyed Mason’s tunes when he opened for those artists. Mason endorses John Pearse Strings and National Reso-Phonic Guitars and was recently featured in National’s “Artists in Resonance” audio catalog.
The latest can be found at www.johnalexmason.com