{"id":149669,"date":"2025-12-18T17:15:53","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T22:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/?post_type=records&p=149669"},"modified":"2025-12-29T15:52:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T20:52:36","slug":"best-albums-of-2025-sean-mason-a-breath-of-fresh-air","status":"publish","type":"records","link":"https:\/\/panm360.com\/en\/records\/best-albums-of-2025-sean-mason-a-breath-of-fresh-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Albums of 2025: Sean Mason – A Breath of Fresh Air"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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 <\/em>weeks before the end of 2025, and its inclusion in this year\u2019s top 100 list goes to show that this title isn\u2019t just marketing. Seemingly undeterred and unintimidated by the feats achieved in The Southern Suite <\/em>(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\u2019s hard to be upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201clived in,\u201d implying a profound knowledge of the utilized genres. Nothing half-baked or cheesy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A mere two albums in, and I would say that this quintet of Sean Mason\u2019s could absolutely give some of the best jazz quintets a run for their money. Mason\u2019s compositions and the band\u2019s interpretations are really something. Go listen for yourself and then work your way through the rest of this year\u2019s top 100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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