Chameleon - Harvey Mason CD

Additional Info: Harvey Mason's 2014 effort, Chameleon, is an expansive and funky album that finds the journeyman jazz drummer exploring the space between the '70s post-bop/fusion albums that marked his early career and the contemporary smooth jazz work that has defined the latter half of his career. Having started out playing with the masterful pianist Erroll Garner, Mason eventually join Herbie Hancock's legendary Headhunters ensemble, with whom he recorded the original version of this album's title track. And while he went on to a successful career working with a bevy of artists including Lee Ritenour, George Benson, and others, it is primarily his work with Hancock that is Mason's focus here. In fact, Mason has put together a group of adept musicians rivaling the original Headhunters lineup, including original Headhunters percussionist Bill Summers, trumpeter Christian Scott, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, Fender Rhodes keyboardist Kris Bowers, bassist Ben Williams, and others. Together, Mason and his band delve deep into a batch of original songs and well-chosen covers by such similarly inclined crossover jazz giants as Bobby Hutcherson, Patrice Rushen, and the Mizell Brothers. And while Mason's organic, chilled-out take on the title track (replete with Summers' atmospheric vocals and Hinda Hu whistle) is a highlight, it's merely the tip of this funk-berg. Similarly engaging are such cuts as the synth-driven, '80s video game funk of "Mase's Theme" and the yearning, alternative R&B-infused reworking of Leon Ware's "If I Ever Lose This Heaven," featuring vocalist Chris Turner. We also get the moody, sensuous "Black Frost," with its synth-layered groove that still allows for a muscular, skronk-laden solo from Washington. Ultimately, as the title implies, Chameleon is a joyful album that combines the best aspects of Mason's musically colorful, ever-changing career. ~ Matt Collar

Specifics

• Album: Chameleon
• Artist: Harvey Mason
• Label: SONY JAPAN
• Genre: Jazz
• MPN: COCB-54084

1. Chameleon
Arranged By - Ben Wendel
Arranged By [Intro/Outro] - Bill Summers
Composed By - Bennie Maupin, Harvey Mason, Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson (2)
Composed By [Intro/Outro] - Bill Summers
Drums, Piano, Synth [Bass] - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Percussion, Vocals, Whistle [Hinda Hu] - Bill Summers
Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Arranged By - Ben Wendel
Arranged By [Intro/Outro] - Bill Summers
Composed By - Bennie Maupin, Harvey Mason, Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson (2)
Composed By [Intro/Outro] - Bill Summers
Drums, Piano, Synth [Bass] - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Percussion, Vocals, Whistle [Hinda Hu] - Bill Summers
Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
2. Black Frost
Arranged By - Corey "CK" King*
Composed By - Bob James, Grover Washington, Jr.
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Kris Bowers
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Percussion - Bill Summers
Synth, Trombone - Corey "CK" King*
Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Arranged By - Corey "CK" King*
Composed By - Bob James, Grover Washington, Jr.
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Kris Bowers
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Percussion - Bill Summers
Synth, Trombone - Corey "CK" King*
Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
3. Montara
Arranged By - Matthew Stevens (2)
Composed By - Bobby Hutcherson
Drums, Vibraphone - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Percussion - Bill Summers
Arranged By - Matthew Stevens (2)
Composed By - Bobby Hutcherson
Drums, Vibraphone - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Percussion - Bill Summers
4. Looking Back
Arranged By - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Composed By - Harvey Mason, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Paul Jackson (2)
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Paul Jackson (2)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Arranged By - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Composed By - Harvey Mason, Mark De Clive-Lowe, Paul Jackson (2)
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Paul Jackson (2)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
5. Tokyo Station (Bonus Track For Japan)
Acoustic Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Composed By - Harvey Mason
Drums, Piano, Synth, Percussion - Harvey Mason
Saxophone - Dan Higgins
Soprano Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Trombone - Bill Reichenbach (2)
Trumpet - Gary Grant
Acoustic Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Composed By - Harvey Mason
Drums, Piano, Synth, Percussion - Harvey Mason
Saxophone - Dan Higgins
Soprano Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Trombone - Bill Reichenbach (2)
Trumpet - Gary Grant
6. If I Ever Lose This Heaven
Arranged By - Corey "CK" King*
Arranged By [Vocals] - Harvey Mason
Composed By - Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Producer [Vocals] - Harvey Mason Jr.
Synth, Trombone - Corey "CK" King*
Trumpet - Christian Scott (2)
Vocals - Chris Turner (6)
Arranged By - Corey "CK" King*
Arranged By [Vocals] - Harvey Mason
Composed By - Leon Ware, Pam Sawyer
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Producer [Vocals] - Harvey Mason Jr.
Synth, Trombone - Corey "CK" King*
Trumpet - Christian Scott (2)
Vocals - Chris Turner (6)
7. Before The Dawn
Arranged By - Kris Bowers
Composed By - Patrice Rushen
Drums, Percussion - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Kris Bowers
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Trombone - Corey "CK" King*
Trumpet - Christian Scott (2)
Arranged By - Kris Bowers
Composed By - Patrice Rushen
Drums, Percussion - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Kris Bowers
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Trombone - Corey "CK" King*
Trumpet - Christian Scott (2)
8. Any Sunday (Bonus Track For Japan)
Composed By - Harvey Mason, Michael Ruff (2)
Drums, Synth - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Piano [Acoustic], Synth - Michael Ruff (2)
Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
Composed By - Harvey Mason, Michael Ruff (2)
Drums, Synth - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Jimmy Haslip
Piano [Acoustic], Synth - Michael Ruff (2)
Tenor Saxophone - Kamasi Washington
9. Mase's Theme
Arranged By - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Composed By - Harvey Mason, Mark De Clive-Lowe
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Arranged By - Mark De Clive-Lowe
Composed By - Harvey Mason, Mark De Clive-Lowe
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Mark De Clive-Lowe
10. Either Way
Arranged By - Kris Bowers
Composed By - Harvey Mason
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Kris Bowers
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Arranged By - Kris Bowers
Composed By - Harvey Mason
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synth - Kris Bowers
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
11. Places And Spaces
Arranged By - Corey "CK" King*
Composed By - Fonce Mizell, Larry Mizell
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Kris Bowers
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Trumpet - Christian Scott (2)
Vocals, Synth - Corey "CK" King*
Arranged By - Corey "CK" King*
Composed By - Fonce Mizell, Larry Mizell
Drums - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Ben Williams (5)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Kris Bowers
Guitar - Matthew Stevens (2)
Trumpet - Christian Scott (2)
Vocals, Synth - Corey "CK" King*
12. Looking Forward
Arranged By - Guillaume Perret
Composed By - Guillaume Perret, Harvey Mason, Paul Jackson (2)
Drums, Synth - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Paul Jackson (2)
Piano [Solo] - John Beasley
Tenor Saxophone, Keyboards - Guillaume Perret
Arranged By - Guillaume Perret
Composed By - Guillaume Perret, Harvey Mason, Paul Jackson (2)
Drums, Synth - Harvey Mason
Electric Bass - Paul Jackson (2)
Piano [Solo] - John Beasley
Tenor Saxophone, Keyboards - Guillaume Perret
13. The Rest Of Tomorrow's (Bonus Track For Japan)
Composed By, Arranged By - Harvey Mason
Drums, Synth - Harvey Mason
Piano [Acoustic] - Bob James
Tenor Saxophone - Will Marriott*
Composed By, Arranged By - Harvey Mason
Drums, Synth - Harvey Mason
Piano [Acoustic] - Bob James
Tenor Saxophone - Will Marriott*

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