Chameleon

Chameleon is Harvey Mason raw and untreated. “I wanted more of today’s colors, but we didn’t add any sweetening, no synths or pads or textures; it was all live."

Producer

Mason’s polished but always unpredictable contributions have propelled Top 40 hits by George Benson, John Legend, Beyoncé, Beck, Bill Withers, Barbra Streisand, James Brown, Herbie Hancock, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Bjork, Carlos Santana, Michael Jackson, John Legend, Nancy Wilson, Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., Lupe Fiasco, Nelly/P. Diddy, T.I., Seal, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Composer

Along with his decades of drumming achievements, Harvey has shown a penchant for greatness as an immensely talented composer and producer.

Drummer

Mason’s rhythm, his sound, his soul are practically part of our musical subconscious—that perfectly pointed and glossy “Mase” beat, typically elaborated with whip-cracking tom fills, inner-groove accents that create a forward-motion edge, and consummate consistency.

Musician

East Coast–born drummer who found success on the West Coast, no small thing considering the different vibes that dominate the jazz played on the different sides of the country—hot, aggressive, and dense in the east, and cool, laid back, and cerebral in the west.

Legend

Harvey Mason first showed his penchant for greatness, distinctive technique and innate sensitivity in the late '60's performing with jazz legends Duke Ellington and Erroll Garner. Groundbreaking performances and compositions with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters. One of the world's premier drummers, Mason has earned ten Grammy nominations.

New Music

Stream and enjoy a first-rate ensemble of consummate musicians including GRAMMY nominee Harvey Mason on drums.

Living Legend

Harvey Mason

Harvey Mason's uncompromising quest for excellence has impacted the shape and form of music and musicians for the past three decades and will continue to keep him at the forefront of not only jazz, but that of pop, rock, orchestral, R&B, hip-hop, world and Latin, for decades to come.

Harvey Mason Quote

Be True to
yourself

“Do all the listening you can, to everyone who is on record, or live. Try to evaluate what really makes them function in the setting they're in. Try to add it to your arsenal or repertoire so that when you're in a situation, you have more things to call on. Listen to the music and try to figure out what your instrument does in various situations. Don't be intimidated by anyone musically, and just do what you do best, and feel good about doing it. All you can do is what you do. You can't do what anyone else does. If you've prepared enough, and have listened enough, and are musically sympathetic to a situation, you usually end up doing okay.” -Harvey Mason, Modern Drummer interview with Robyn Flans (1981)

Learn More

The Game

Photography

Power Vibrations

Photography

Voodoo Moves

Photography

Big Change

Photography

Blue Room

Photography

The Chameleon

Harvey Mason

A legendary, multi-GRAMMY® nominated session drummer, producer, composer & recording artist.

“You will have only begun to scratch the surface by identifying the masterful Harvey Mason as just a drummer.”

London Post City News /

“Harvey Mason came by do a performance Q&A. He demonstrated his mastery of the drums, discussed the importance of a musical approach, as well as how to maintain a career and what it’s like working in many different areas. Harvey is one of the most influential musicians around and is responsible for almost an entire style of drumming, so this was massively valuable for all disciplines.”

Pat Garvey Head of Drums / BIMM

“This album is a vision, a gestalt. Mason was there when the jazz-rock construct came into being — he was one of the original inventors of it —yet he still has open ears and sounds like he just basically really enjoys what he does.There’s a lot of good energy and good feelings on this disc. It is mean and lean and at times employs beautiful atmospherics. Chameleon oozes taste and screams integrity. But what really makes it happening is that it’s fun.”

Matthew Shipp Contributing Writer / Talkhouse

subscribe to the

Join the newsletter to get advance access to news, special experiences, exclusive merchandise, and live events!

Harvey Mason Chameleon
Live at Blue Note Tokoyo

Featuring Mark de Clive-Lowe, Hailey Niswanger & Felix Pastorius

September 15 – 17

Live Events

Harvey Mason's

DISCOGRAPHY

Listen to Music

Exclusive

HARVEY MASON APPAREL

Shop Merch

Discover

PAST & PRESENT