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Elliot Mason

Elliot Mason (Trombone), born in England. He began trumpet lessons with his father at age four. At age seven, struck with an overwhelming curiosity in his father’s trombone, young Mason soon switched his focus from the trumpet.

As an eleven-year-old, Mr. Mason was already performing as a trombonist in dance halls, theaters, clubs, and pubs, covering all styles of music but concentrating primarily on jazz and improvisation. At fifteen, he won the national Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Soloist (under 25) Award and was featured at John Dankworth’s Wavendon Jazz School. Entering alternate age categories the next year, Elliot and his brother Brad, as the Mason brothers, won the national competition a second time and by age sixteen, Mr. Mason left England to join his brother at the Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts on a full tuition scholarship where he met and studied with Hal Crook and Phil Wilson, among others.

In 1994, Mr. Mason won the prestigious Frank Rosolino Award for outstanding trombone performance abilities, and was invited to perform at the International Trombone Workshop. At eighteen, he won the ITW ‘s Under 29 Jazz Trombone competition, as well as the Slide Hampton Award in recognition of outstanding performance abilities from Berklee. After graduating from Berklee in 1996, Mr. Mason moved to New York City, where he distinguished himself as a respected and highly in demand trombone and bass trumpet player.

In 2007, Elliot Mason was invited to become a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, directed by Wynton Marsalis. While continuing to perform with the JLCO, Mr. Mason co-leads the Mason Brothers Quintet with his brother Brad.

Mr. Mason joined Northwestern University’s faculty, in 2008, as their jazz trombone instructor/lecturer; he continues to be an integral part of Northwestern’s Jazz Studies Program.

In 2011, Mr. Mason was asked to join NYU’s faculty as a jazz trombone instructor within their extensive Jazz Studies Program.

Mr. Mason has served as a worldwide clinician, performing workshops and master classes, with the JLCO, the Mason Brothers Quintet, Northwestern University, NYU, the Randy Brecker Quintet, the Victor Goines Quintet and B.A.C. Trombones.

Mr. Mason has been called “One of the most important trombone voices of today’s generation” -Randy Brecker and “Setting the bar for jazz trombone,” bringing innovation, imagination, intelligence, fire and fierce swing to the trombone,” -Michael Brecker “One of the most compelling, moving and exhilarating musicians of today” ­-Gary Husband.

Mr. Mason is endorsed by B.A.C. musical instruments, he is currently playing on his own signature series line of custom trombones.

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3
Album Review

Glenn Close & Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Paul Rauch


Transformation is a multi-disciplinary work from saxophonist/composer Ted Nash, and iconic actress Glenn Close, exploring the multi-faceted and abstract theme of transformation. The works included examine the theme from both universal and individual conceptions. Music and literature at its best is clearly transformative for anyone experiencing it. Transformation is by essence, the highest and most illuminating expression of change. Nash embraced the project by creating a colorful and illustrative collection of pieces, embracing Close's curated literary selections recited by the ...

5
Album Review

Glenn Close/Ted Nash: Transformation

Read "Transformation" reviewed by Jack Bowers


When confronted by an album whose tracks include the names “Creation" (Parts 1 and 2), “Preludes for Memnon," “Wisdom of the Humanities" and “Reaching the Tropopause," among others, one braces for whatever may transpire, buoyed by the thought that with Glenn Close, Ted Nash and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on board, how displeasing could it be? The verdict: not at all displeasing—but it must be appraised on its own terms, as a series of philosophical and hopefully transformative ...

9
Album Review

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis: The Democracy! Suite

Read "The Democracy! Suite" reviewed by Paul Rauch


There is an interesting generational divide in perception when it comes to the music of Wynton Marsalis. While many hail his work at Lincoln Center as elevating jazz to its rightful place among the fine arts, others lament the separation from his iconic quartet and quintet work in the 1980's as some sort of jazz treason. What is unquestionable is his virtuosity and eloquence, expressing each note with beauty as the clear priority in his playing as a ...

5
Album Review

Elliot Mason & Cre8tion: Before, Now & After

Read "Before, Now & After" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Jazz has no shortage of albums dealing with the past-present-future continuum--quite the opposite, in fact--but few carry as personal a tone as trombonist Elliot Mason's debut leader date. While speaking to broad concepts in dealing with the music's history and the notion of time taking form as one giant through line, Mason also inserts family ties into the Before, Now & After framework. Vocalist Sofija Knežević--Mason's wife, who was expecting their first child when the album was recorded and gave ...

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Recording

Brad & Elliot Mason Join Forces as the Mason Brothers on "Two Sides, One Story," Due Oct. 5 from Archival Records

Brad & Elliot Mason Join Forces as the Mason Brothers on "Two Sides, One Story," Due Oct. 5 from Archival Records

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity

The Mason Brothers—trumpeter Brad and trombonist Elliot—have been making music together since they were kids in Norwich, England. Both came to America in the early 1990s on scholarships to Boston's Berklee College of Music and, after graduating and relocating to New York City, have distinguished themselves in a number of challenging musical settings—Elliot with the Mingus Big Band, Count Basie Orchestra, Maria Schneider Orchestra, and, since 2007, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra directed by Wynton Marsalis, and Brad with ...

“One of the most important trombone voices of today’s generation” -Randy Brecker

“Setting the bar for jazz trombone,” bringing innovation, imagination, intelligence, fire and fierce swing to the trombone,” -Michael Brecker

"Elliot Mason has to be one of the most important trombone/bass trumpet voices in modern music to emerge. He truly transcends the instruments he is undoubtedly already so supremely proficient in mastering to a level where I wasn't even aware it was trombone or a bass trumpet. To me, that's greatness. In Elliot you experience everything, from the most profound lyricism right over to the most intense, vital and truly electrifying

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Primary Instrument

Trombone

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

2011 – Present Jazz Trombone Instructor at NYU
2008 – Present Jazz Trombone Instructor at Northwestern University
2006 - Present Jazz Trombone Instructor at The New School, NYC
1996 - Present Jazz Trombone Private Lessons

Clinic/Workshop Information

2008 - Present Clinician for BAC Trombones
2006 – Present Clinician/Education with the JLCO
2004 - Present Clinician with the Randy Brecker Quintet
1995 - 2008 Clinician for Taylor Trombones

Zach Rich
trombone

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Democracy! Suite

Blue Engine Records
2021

buy

Transformation

Tiger Turn
2021

buy

Sofijazz

Archival Records
2020

buy

Before, Now & After

Self Produced
2018

buy

Two Sides, One Story

Self Produced
2010

buy

Videos

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