Grammy-nominated pianist, composer, and band leader Sean Mason offered audiences a sophomore album (as a leader) late this year with the release of A Breath of Fresh Air weeks before the end of 2025, and its inclusion in this year’s top 100 list goes to show that this title isn’t just marketing. Seemingly undeterred and unintimidated by the feats achieved in The Southern Suite (2023), Mason offers us a worthy follow-up that, while not an enormous sonic deviation from his first album, was so groovy, tasteful, and inventive that it’s hard to be upset.
Much of the album, not unlike his first, is steeped in hard bop, old R&B and gospel; and these sounds are expertly channelled by all, showing that they are players of the highest calibre. Mason also sees fit to include moments of cha-cha, second line fanfare, and counterpoint over uptempo swing. Crucially, it all feels “lived in,” implying a profound knowledge of the utilized genres. Nothing half-baked or cheesy.
In line with other quintets from jazz history, many of the melodies are played at the octave by that most classic of pairings, tenor sax and trumpet. Mason gives them slick and powerful lines to play throughout the album, while the rhythm section expertly matches their intensity and adds an unwavering time feel to play over top of. All of this is elevated by a really clean production and mix that makes you feel as though you were sitting in on the session.
A mere two albums in, and I would say that this quintet of Sean Mason’s could absolutely give some of the best jazz quintets a run for their money. Mason’s compositions and the band’s interpretations are really something. Go listen for yourself and then work your way through the rest of this year’s top 100.
