Sean Mason Trio

Grammy nominated pianist and composer Sean Mason brings his trio to the Side Door for an intimate Friday night.

What to expect: An up close evening with a pianist whose playing blends soul, gospel, and the jazz tradition with a distinct melodic voice. In a 68-seat listening room, you'll hear every detail as a trio plays together and responds to each other in the moment.

Personnel:
Sean Mason · Piano
Rest of trio TBA

Sean Mason was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he began teaching himself piano at 13, drawing on the gospel, R&B, and soul he grew up around. At 17 he won the inaugural McGlohon Young Jazz Competition, and he later met Branford Marsalis, who encouraged him to move to New York and produced his debut album. He went on to attend The Juilliard School while building a name on the New York scene, playing Smalls, Smoke, and Lincoln Center.

His debut, The Southern Suite, an album of original music exploring his relationship to the American South, was released on Blue Engine Records, the label of Jazz at Lincoln Center, in 2023. His duo album with vocalist Catherine Russell, My Ideal, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album and a 2025 Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording. In 2022 he was named to NPR's inaugural Jazz Night in America "Youngbloods" class, and he won a 2023 Bessie Award for his music and sound design on choreographer LaTasha Barnes' The Jazz Continuum.

Mason has played piano on film and television soundtracks including Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Rustin, and he has been praised by Wynton Marsalis for his "combination of soul and intelligence." He is a Steinway Artist.

The Side Door Jazz Club is a dedicated jazz listening room located inside the historic Old Lyme Inn, 85 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT.