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| Harvey Mason |
| Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on February 22, 1947. Harvey is one of the world's most prolific, and certainly disco musics, drummers. Harvey developed his love of music at an early age he attended Berklee and graduated from the New England Conservatory. One of his first jobs after graduation was with Errol Garner, the short lived job led to a longer job with George Shearing between 1970-71. Soon after leaving Shearing, Harvey moved to Los Angeles and quickly became established in the studios, working in films and television. During this period he began gaining a reputation as one of the premier studio drummers. Although adept at playing drums to any type of music he is most closely linked to the jazz world. His drumming can be heard on such pop/rock items as "Diamond Girl" (Seals & Crofts), "Rhymes & Reasons" (Carole King), "Headhunter" (Herbie Hancock), "Let's Love" (Peggy Lee), "Symphonic Soul" (Henry Mancini) and "Minnie" (Minnie Riperton) among countless others. While compiling a lengthy resume of guest appearances on hundreds of recordings he began his own solo career with 1976's "Marching In The Streets." The Arista records album began a 5-year association with the label that had it's highs and lows. That album, along with it's follow-up "Earth Mover," failed to garner any awards or spawn any hits but both were still well received. 1977's "Funk In A Mason Jar" gave him the much needed exposure as an artist and received more airplay than his previous two releases combined. The album hit #-9 on the jazz charts and #-37 on the black playlists and saw him edging to a newer funkier sound than his earlier releases. Taking a year off from his own recording career he came back in full force in 1979 with his disco classic "Groovin' You." The album combined his jazz sensiblities with a racous disco beat that delight dancers from coast to coast. The 12" single shot up the club charts and gained him a completely new audience. This surge in noteriety led to a two year gap in recordings. This allowed him time to tour as an established act and to continue his studio work for others. His 1981 release, "World Class," gave him a second, albeit minor, club charter with "We Can Start Tonight." The 12" single and album would fulfill his contract and end his association with Arista records. But Harvey was not worried, in fact he was now free to pursue his jazz connections. For the next fourteen years he worked steadily as a studio musician during which time he appeared on nearly every successful jazz album released. As a founding member of the contemporary jazz "super group" Fourplay, Mason flexed his writing, playing and arranging skills with partners Bob James, Nathan East and Larry Carlton (the latter of whom replaced original member Lee Ritenour). Fourplay’s debut album sat atop Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart for thirty-four weeks, leading to a platinum album, three subsequent gold discs, a Soul Train Music Award and three Grammy nominations, to date. For his work, Mason earned "Drummer Of The Year" honors for the first two years running of the brand new Smooth Jazz Awards. Ever growing and stretching, Harvey went back to school to study at Southwestern Law School (1986) and UCLA (1988), the latter for film scoring. His work in the film arena has included playing for such renowned composers as 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"), Lalo Schifrin ("Rush Hour" and "The Enforcer"), Isaac Hayes ("Three Tough Guys" and "Truck Turner"), Johnny Pate ("Shaft In Africa"), Alan Silvestri ("Who Framed Roger Rabbit"), Alan Menken and Tim Rice ("Beauty And The Beast"), Thom Newman ("The Player"), to name only a few. Easing into his fourth decade of professional music making, Harvey Mason looks forward to new horizons with Fourplay, on a new record label BMG, a new solo album, more film scoring and his usual choice assignments as a sideman. Loved by millions of jazz fans, he is honored here for his "disco contributions" which still keeps people "Groovin'." |
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