James Mason - at Jazz Cafe

Few albums have shaped the sound of jazz-funk and R&B fusion as profoundly as James Mason’s Rhythm of Life (1977). A pivotal figure in the genre, Mason, best known for his work with Roy Ayers’ band and collaborations with Japanese jazz icons Terumasa Hino and Masabumi Kikuchi, crafted a record that transcends time, hailed by Discogs as one of the "20 Essential Jazz-Fusion Records Everyone Should Own."

Cruelly underappreciated in his own day, radio stations didn't know how to market his only record. It was too jazzy for funk stations, too funky for jazz stations, too much of either for soul stations. Lightyears ahead of his time, his work still sounds fresher than most of the jazz-funk of its day, for its expert, visionary fusion.

Rhythm of Life has inspired generations of musicians, DJs, and producers with its lush harmonies, infectious grooves, and visionary arrangements. Now, for the first time in over a decade, Mason assembles a live ensemble to reimagine tracks from this seminal album, alongside selections from Recollection Echo, in a rare tour de force performance.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to witness the architect of jazz-funk breathe new life into his most legendary work.

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