In advance of Fourplay’s annual appearance in Philadelphia on June 25 at the Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA, I asked two of these world-class musicians, bassist Nathan East and drummer Harvey Mason, to reflect on their careers and their own recently releases solo projects.

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Don’t miss Harvey Mason’s album release party!

Blue Whale

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A Conversation with Harvey Mason

Mike Ragogna: Hey, is this The Chameleon?

Harvey Mason: [laughs] This is the Chameleon! Hey Mike, how are you doing, buddy?

MR: I’m pretty good, how’ve you been?

HM: Pretty great! Just fantastic.

MR: Yeah, I know, it looks like it. You’ve got a new album, Fourplay’s been doing great, and everything’s on the up and up with you right now.

HM: Yeah, I can’t complain, everything’s been great, I’ve just been having a great time, loving life and loving music and I’m going to continue to grow.

MR: Speaking of that, what do you think of the new album? What’s your impression of this Chameleon?

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Chameleon, the scintillating Concord Records debut from multi-GRAMMY® nominated Harvey Mason, finds him drawing upon the rich jazz-funk legacy of the 1970s and recasting seven of that era’s most enduring classics with an early 21st-century sheen. A legendary session drummer, producer, composer and recording artist, Mason is among the most recorded and in-demand musicians of all-time.

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Harvey Mason, the GRAMMY-nominated drummer of Fourplay, was one of the cornerstones of Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters ensemble. Chameleon also features some of the brightest young jazz talents on the scene today, including several NEXT Collective alumni: trumpeter Christian Scott, bassist Ben Williams, pianist/keyboardist Kris Bowers, and guitarist Matthew Stevens.

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Harvey Mason is set to release his new album, ‘Chameleon’ on April 29th, 2014.

Get an audio preview, plus a signed copy of the album by clicking

HERE!

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 cutting-edge 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.

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