Dave Mason is recuperating from a heart operation he underwent late last year, and is preparing to release a new album and return to the road in the coming weeks.
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The 78-year-old British rocker’s upcoming album is titled A Shade of Blues and is scheduled to arrive on March 21. The 11-track collection finds the singer, songwriter, and guitarist delving into various blues and R&B styles.
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A Shade of Blues can be pre-ordered now. It’s available on CD, as a vinyl LP, and via digital formats.
“My guitar playing has always drawn from the blues,” Mason explained about the new project. “This album leans a little more heavily into that style, but not entirely—that’s why I call it A Shade of Blues.”
The album features guest appearances by Michael McDonald, blues guitar whiz Joe Bonamassa, and veteran smooth-jazz saxophonist Warren Hill.
[RELATED: Dave Mason Reveals He’s Undergoing Heart Valve Replacement Surgery After Canceling Tour]
A Shade of Blues features versions of such blues classics as “Come Home in My Kitchen,” “Cocaine Blues,” “Born Under a Bad Sign,” and “Dust My Blues.” Mason, who was a founding member of Traffic, also has recorded new renditions of two classic songs by his old band—“The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy.” Bonamassa plays guitar and sings on both Traffic covers.
Mason’s version of “Dear Mr. Fantasy” is available via digital formats now. You also can check out an animated music video for the tune at Dave’s official YouTube channel.
“I wanted to find new ways to approach these songs,” Mason noted about the Traffic tunes. “I’ve always enjoyed reinterpreting the music that’s shaped my career.”
The Album Also Features Original Compositions
A Shade of Blues also features four songs written by Mason. One of those tunes is the lead track, “Use It, or Lose It,” which also features Bonamassa on guitar and vocals. The song will be released as an advance single on February 21.
McDonald contributed his vocal and keyboard talents to another Mason original, “It’s Just You and Me.”
Mason’s 2025 Tour Plans
Mason continues to tours with his current band, Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam. Dave was forced to cancel a fall 2024 tour because he needed to undergo a heart-valve-replacement operation. The surgery took place in November and was successful.
Now on the mend, Mason has scheduled an 11-date spring 2025 trek dubbed the Let It Flow Tour. The outing, which coincides with the release of A Shade of Blues, is scheduled to kick off March 20 in Augusta, Georgia, and runs through an April 5 show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“I can’t just sit around doing nothing,” Dave said in a statement. “I still love playing guitar, I love being out on tour. I just want to keep this music alive for new generations.”
Tickets for Mason’s concert are available from various outlets, including StubHub.
A Shade of Blues Track List:
- “Use It, or Lose It”
- “Come Home in My Kitchen”
- “It’s Just You and Me”
- “Cocaine Blues”
- “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys”
- “Born Under a Bad Sign”
- “Dust My Blues”
- “Dear Mr. Fantasy”
- “Just Another Fool in Love”
- “El Toro”
- “Good to You”
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