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DAVE MASON Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and founding member of the classic group Traffic, has released his first album in over 20 years! Dave has recorded with legends Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, and Fleetwood Mac. While with Traffic he penned the classic hit "Feelin' Alright." Dave then followed with two highly acclaimed platinum solo albums, Alone Together (including the single "Only Know and I know") and Let It Flow (featuring the hit single "We Just Disagree").

26 LETTERS AND 12 NOTES was released under the OTB label October 14th, 2008. It contains twelve classic new tracks and features five singles: "Good 2 U," "Pink Lipstick," "How Do I Get To Heaven" (Featuring Willie Nelson on guitar), "That's Love (featuring Shelia E), and "Full Circle and Then." The album was produced by Dave with help from Mark & Brian Pastoria (Harmonie Park), Ron & Howard Albert (Miami Audio Vision), Ted Perlman, Tre Perry, and Phil Bonanno. Dave is currently performing about 100 shows a year with the Dave Mason Band across the U.S. and Canada. The Band includes Gerald Johnson (Bass), John Sambataro (guitar), Alvino Benett (Drums) & Bill Mason (Keyboards).

Thom Jurek reviews Mason's 26 Letters 12 Notes Dave Mason - 26 Letters - 12 Notes is his first new album in a decade. Originally produced by Mason at home in California, additional recording was done in Detroit and Miami. It's a back to basics, '70s style rock and Brit soul record. It contains some modern co-production by a number of folks including the Motor City's {Mark and Brian Pastoria} where mixing was also done. It reveals Mason not only as a solid, focused, and relevant songwriter in the rock idiom, but as an expressive vocalist of uncanny power and depth (he's actually gotten BETTER over the decades). His guitar playing has continued to develop and grow: he is a far more interesting player than his peer {Eric Clapton} is at this stage of the game.

There isn't anything showy or hyper-consciously "dazzling" in the presentation, Mason's always been humble, and he sets his playing and singing to be true to his songs. There are some stellar guests on the set, including Willie Nelson (playing guitar, not singing), percussionist and vocalist Shiela E. The big surprise is soul/gospel vocalist {Beth Griffith} belting it out with great firepower. The production is warm, lively and immediate. It's not in your face; instead it concentrates on presenting the music as live dynamically, though it is rich and deep in its textures.

The opener, {"Good 2 U,"} is classic Mason; with a bluesy guitar riff, backed by taut string arrangement. The blues ring out in fills against Mason's open, emotional baritone. The guitar winds around a funky backbeat on the refrain, complete with a chorus of backing vocalists, a tight snare and a slithering B3. {"One Day,"} opens with the same raucous Stratocaster playing a gospel blues, and Mason belting it out on top. The chorus, piano and organ interact with that guitar and are infectious. The keyboard sounds meld into Mason's rough-edged guitar in a chorded riff; they feel the sound of the middle 70s radio rock roaring out of the dashboard speakers. This is a highway anthem disguised as a broken love song. Mason's lyrics serve his voice; they are wonderfully written. In {"How Do I Get To Heaven,"} his writing emotionally worthy of {Barrett Strong} and lyrically of {Bob Dylan}. This is a hymn to busted love so emotionally authentic, we keep expecting the singer to break down. There's a beautiful pedal steel here played by {Dana Keller} that does exactly what it's supposed to do: add a ton of atmosphere without being intrusive. atmosphere. Mason loves late R&B and early rock and roll evidenced by the swagger in {"Ain't Your Legs Tired Baby,"} with a smoking baritone sax adding raunch to the roll. Other winners include the mid tempo torch song in {"Passing Thru The Flame,"} and two pumped up slippery funk tunes in {"That's Love,"} and {"World Of Hunger"} with {Sheila E}. There's also a happening Spanish guitar-tinged instrumental called {&"El Toro."} The set ends with the country-ish {"Full Circle And Then,"} a gorgeous love song, with wonderful acoustic and electric guitar work as well as Mason's deeply committed vocal.

26 Letters and 12 Notes stands tall in Mason's catalogue; it's proof that some veteran rockers are still hungry for the Muse; they've have been stashing diamonds in the dust of age-this album is full of them and proof that Mason doesn't rest on his laurels. ~ Thom Jurek