AltWeeklies Wire » Music » Profiles & Interviews

Rock is an Attitude Thing

By Ballard Lesemann
Charleston City Paper | September 30, 2006
Veteran singer/guitarist Dave Mason, 59, may be best known as a key player in the bluesy side of the British Invasion — mostly from his work with the Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, and Traffic.

His low-key solo career through the 1970s centered around L.A., where he signed on with CBS Records. His biggest solo hit came in 1977 with “We Just Disagree” (off of the album Let it Flow).

He’s been living in California since 1973. He hasn’t released a proper solo studio album in 20 years.

“I’ve just been working on putting out a new studio album, titled Twenty-Six Letters and Twelve Notes, which I’m really excited about,” he says in a voice more Californian than anything out of his native Worcester, England. “I’m just trying to find a way to put that out there, so, at least, people know it’s there.”

“There are some very cool tracks,” he adds. “There’s all sorts of different stuff on there, some of which could be considered ‘classic Dave,’ I suppose. In terms of the performance and production, it’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done. Kids love it. Adults like it. It’s nearly 60 years of life in it [laughs].”

Mason’s current backing band includes bassist/tour manager Alex Drisos, keyboardist Bill Mason, drummer Alvino Bennett, and guitarist/vocalist Johnne Sambataro.

“Finding the way to get this new music out there is a different ball game these days, you know?” Mason says. “Radio is so fragmented and the business is so tough, we’ll have to wait and see what happens. But I’m delighted to have this album done and to be on the road with this band.”
Tags: traffic, British Invasion, Dave Mason, Spencer Davis Group, Steve Winwood, We Just Disagree

Charleston City Paper

Founded in 1997, the locally owned and operated City Paper is Charleston's only weekly alternative newspaper and the second-largest publication in the metro Charleston area. Reaching a strong mix of active, affluent locals and tourists, the City Paper has thrived...
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