Town and Country (2008 Naked Jaybird Music)
John-Alex Mason’s new album “Town and Country” engages the conversation between past and present, between roots and the fruits, between the town and country in all of us. Mason explores these ideas with danceable grooves, masterful slide work and interpretations of rare old songs that complement slow-core acoustic and rocking one-man band originals. Rooted by his love of Delta, Piedmont and Hill Country Blues, Mason delivers stunning solo performances on both his resonator guitar and his electrified one-man band rig. Deep, hypnotic vocals and sweet songwriting elevate and unite the 15 tracks.
Highlights:
- Street date is Tuesday, January 15, 2008
- Released on Naked Jaybird Music with global distribution through Burnside.
- John-Alex’s 5th full-length recording and second HDCD
- 15 tracks – 7 original tunes and 8 historical tunes with arrangements and additional lyrics by Mason.
- John-Alex Mason uses vocals, electric guitar, Lowebow and foot drums on the 8 ‘Town’ tracks & vocals and National Style O guitar on the remaining ‘Country’ tracks.
- Mastered by multi-Grammy winner David Glasser and engineered by John McVey & Greg McRae.
- Recorded at Coupe Studios, Boulder, CO.
- John-Alex Mason is participating in the 2008 International Blues Challenge (Jan 31 – Feb 2, 2008) and the 2008 International Folk Alliance Conference (Feb 20 – 24, 2008), both in Memphis.
“Town and Country pretty well sums up where I am at right now musically. The ‘Country’ side of things is more personal and quiet. There is more space to explore, but certainly less to hide behind. And ‘Town’? Town is where you go to get down! It’s about shaking it, getting your juke on, cutting loose. Lip-stick pickups into a Plexi. Bass from a cigar box guitar, grooving with foot drums, getting people moving.”
“I wanted to make an album that was true to life, just like me and my live show. My music is sacred to me, it’s an extension of me, and I want my listeners to know I’m really there, vivid and honest, behind my music.” John-Alex Mason
Previous Recordings:
Barefoot EP / NJBM-005 2006, One Man Band extended play single
Live Fire / NJBM-004 2005, Live Official Bootleg release
Time Will Come / NJBM-003, 2004 – first HDCD
Mason & Hundt / NJBM-002, 2002
Walking Tracks / NJBM-001, 2000
