Jayvee Music Reviews with Jeff Vallet

Multi-Grammy nominated Harvey Mason draws upon the rich jazz-funk legacy of the ’70s and recasts seven of that era’s most enduring classics with his new album. The lead composition, “Chameleon,” serves, in part, as the signifying reference for Mason’s disc.

Not only did Mason provide the rhythmic spank for the jazz-funk staple, he co-wrote it with Hancock along with several other bandmates – Jackson and reedist Bennie Maupin.

The other part of the equalization for the disc’s title comes from “Chameleon,” being a nickname given to Mason because of his incredible versatility. As a first-rate session musician and live performer, his brilliance resides not only in jazz. He’s demonstrated musicianship in R&B, pop, country, Latin and European classical music. Mason also has played on an astounding number of recordings, movie and TV scores and commercial jingles.

Like most of the songs on the disc, Mason participated in the recording sessions of the original version of “Black Forest.”

The disc continues with an imaginative take on Bobby Hutcherson’s “Montara,” which has become a hip-hop gem thanks to people like the Roots and Madlib sampling it. On “Chameleon,” Mason handles the vibraphone part but allows Stevens, who arranged the makeover, to emerge as the lead voice on the melody, before passing the baton to de Clive-Lowe on Fender Rowes.

The disc is a true testament to the enduring vitality of ’70s jazz-funk, and to Mason’s incredible musical flexibility. He’s a musician intent on constantly pressing forward. So Chameleon is hardly caught up in shallow nostalgia; it’s undeniably contemporary.

“The music sounds different than it did back then,” Mason says. “But you get the same feeling and vibe.”

Cool album!