Harvey Mason

by Scott Yanow
Throughout his career, Harvey Mason has been a busy studio musician and a highly versatile drummer able to excel in many different situations. Mason attended Berklee and graduated from the New England Conservatory. Early gigs included four months with Erroll Garner in 1970 and a year with George Shearing from 1970-71. Soon after leaving Shearing, Mason moved to Los Angeles and quickly became established in the studios, working in films and television. In addition to his anonymous work through the years, Mason has often been part of the jazz world. He played with Herbie Hancocks Headhunters in 1973, Gerry Mulligan during a 1974 Carnegie Hall concert, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington Jr. (appearing on Mister Magic), Lee Ritenour, Victor Feldman, George Benson (playing drums on This Masquerade) and Bob James, among many others. In 1998, Mason paid tribute to Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers in some local Los Angeles club gigs. Masons two albums as a leader (commercial efforts for Arista in 1975 and 1981) feature fellow studio vets.