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HARVEY MASON
Biography
Harvey Mason is among the most recorded and in-demand drummers of all-time. A legendary,
multi-GRAMMY® nominated session drummer, producer, composer & recording artist, he has
worked with a pantheon of musical giants, including Barbra Streisand, James Brown, Herbie
Hancock, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles,
Bjork, Carlos Santana, Michael Jackson, John Legend, Seal, and the London Symphony
Orchestra. He has composed and written songs recorded by artists ranging from Nancy Wilson
and Mary J. Blige to The Notorious B.I.G., Lupe Fiasco, Nelly/P. Diddy and T.I.
Chameleon, Mason’s April 29, 2014 solo debut for Concord Records and 10th solo project
overall, adds one more remarkable chapter to his legacy. A blend of R&B, urban and cuttingedge jazz, Chameleon takes its inspiration from the title track, which Mason co-wrote with
Herbie Hancock, and is a knowing nod to Mason himself, aptly dubbed the “Chameleon” for his
uncanny ability to perform so many styles of music. The album updates classic tracks
that Mason either wrote or actually played on, such as Hancock’s “Chameleon,” Grover
Washington’s “Black Frost,” Patrice Rushen’s “Before the Dawn,” Donald Byrd’s “Places and
Spaces” and Mason’s own “Either Way.” Look for Mason to hit the road with his new band
Chameleon to support his Concord release.
Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Mason began taking formal drum lessons at age seven,
playing in school bands and finally buying his first drum set at the age of 16. He continued his
education first at the Berklee School of Music, then attended the New England Conservatory of
Music on full scholarship, studying performance, composing, arranging, percussion and mallets.
In 1970, he graduated from NEC with a B.A. in Education and Performance. He received
immeasurable preparation for orchestral work from the legendary Vic Firth, timpanist with the
Boston Symphony.
In the’70s and ’80s, “Mase” was king, working on Donald Byrd’s commercial breakthrough
album Black Byrd and a series of successful crossover albums for Blue Note Records. This led to
his seminal work on Herbie Hancock’s jazz masterpiece Head Hunters (1974), which featured
the hit “Chameleon” (co-composed by Mason) and Mason’s own arrangement of Hancock’s
“Watermelon Man.”
A string of recordings comprising a “Fusion 101″ class for aspiring drummers soon followed,
including performances on Grover Washington Jr.’s Mister Magic, Bob James’ Three (featuring
“Westchester Lady”), Lee Ritenour’s Captain Fingers, and many more. The icing on the cake for
this phenomenal ’70s output was Mason’s contribution to George Benson’s triple-platinum
selling Breezin’ album.
Mason’s precision playing has graced movies for such renowned composers as Michael
Giacchino (Cars 2, Mission Impossible 1, 2, 3 & 4, Up , Star Trek, Speed Racer), Michel
Colombier (Prince’s Purple Rain), Michel Legrand, Miles Davis’ (Dingo), Dave Grusin (Three
Days of the Condor, The Fabulous Baker Boys and On Golden Pond), John Williams (Hook),
and Lalo Schifrin (Rush Hour 1,2 & 3 and The Enforcer), Harvey Mason (Dreamgirls, Get On
Up) to name only a few.
Mason is a founding member of Fourplay, and he continues to flex his writing, playing,
arranging and production skills with partners Bob James, Nathan East and Chuck Loeb.
Fourplay’s most recent recording, Esprit De Four, was released on Heads Up, a division of
Concord Music Group, and debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart, receiving a
GRAMMY® nomination.
With a commitment to broaden his solo career, Mason says that he’s finally found a good
balance. “It’s become more evident to me how much I love playing live and having interaction
with band mates and music fans. I’m not a smooth jazz player or a straight-ahead jazz player.
I’m more than all of that, I am the Chameleon.” He adds, “The best is yet to come.”