A SHADE OF BLUES

Blues has been a part of Dave Mason’s music and guitar-playing from the very beginning of his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career as an 18-year-old founding member of Traffic alongside Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood. Now, some six decades later, Mason is taking his own advice, playing some of the best guitar of his life on his latest album A Shade of Blues.

The 11 songs range from the primal Robert Johnson 12-string acoustic blues of “Come Home in My Kitchen” to the JJ Cale-style folk blues of the Mason-arranged “Cocaine Blues,” the reggae feel of Mason’s “Just Another Fool in Love,” and the Spanish flamenco/Gipsy Kings guitars of his “El Toro,” adding saxophone player Warren Hill to the final mix. There are also bluesy re-imaginings of Traffic standards “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Dear Mr. Fantasy", with world-class guitarist Joe Bonamassa adding his distinctive riffs to both tracks. Michael McDonald adds vocal harmony, piano and organ to Mason’s self-penned “It’s Just You and Me,” recorded several years ago in Dave’s current Hawaii home studio. 

A Shade of Blues is living proof of the longevity of the blues as well as the artist, with Dave Mason burnishing his Hall of Fame legacy, proving that by continuing to use it, you won’t lose it. He continues to tour as Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam, playing many of the hits he helped create. In 2024 Mason released his memoir, ‘Only You Know & I Know’.

PRE-ORDER vinyl or CDs NOW and it will be shipped on Friday, March 21.

Individual Track Downloads

Written by Dave Mason - Published by 2612 Music • Dave Mason (Vocal, Acoustic Lead Guitar) • Joe Bonamassa (Vocal, Lead Guitar) • Gerald Johnson (Bass,  Vocals) • Bill Mason (Piano) • Jonathan McEuen (Acoustic Guitar) • Teddy Jack (Drums) 

Written by Robert Johnson. Published by Island Music • Dave Mason (Vocal, Dobro, Acoustic Rhythm Guitar) • Jonathan McEuen (Vocal, 12 String Guitar)  • Alex Drizos (Bass) • Bob Corritore (Harmonica) • Ken Eros (Drums) 

Written by Dave Mason. Published by 26-12 Music • Dave Mason (Vocal, Bass, Guitar, Drums) • Michael McDonald (Vocal, Piano, Organ) 

Dave Mason (Vocal) • Jonathan McEuen (Vocal, 12 String) • Alex Drizos (Bass) • Bob Corritore (Harmonica)  • Ken Eros (Drums) 

Written by Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi. Published by Island Records (Polydor in Canada) • Dave Mason ( Vocal, Lead Guitar) • Joe Bonamassa (Vocal, Lead Guitar) • Johnne Sambataro (Acoustic Guitar)  • Tony Patler (Keyboards, Bass) • Alvino Bennett (Drums) • Ray Cardwell (Backup Vocals)

Written by Willian Bell and Booker T. Jones, Jr. Published by Irving Music • Dave Mason (Vocal, Lead Guitars, Piano, Brass) • Gerald Johnson (Bass) • Mike Finnigan (Organ)  • Teddy Jack (Drums) 

Written by Joe Josea, Elmore James, Robert Johnson. Published by Universal Music and BMG. • Dave Mason (Vocal, Slide Guitar) • Mike Finnigan (Piano) • Gerald Johnson (Bass) • Alvino Bennett (Drums) 

Written by Chris Wood and Steve Winwood. Lyrics by Jim Capaldi. Published by Kobalt, Universal Music, and Rock And Roll Stew Music • Dave Mason (Vocal, Lead Guitar) • Joe Bonamassa (Vocal, Lead Guitar) • Jonathan McEuen (Acoustic, Electric  Guitars) • Tony Patler (Keyboards) • Ray Cardwell (Bass) • Marty Fera (Drums)  

Written by Dave Mason. Published by 26-12 Music • Dave Mason (Vocal, Lead Guitar) • Jade Hendrix (Vocals) • Jonathan McEuen (12 String) • Tony Patler (Organ)  • Alex Drizos (Bass), • Teddy Jack (Drums) 

Written by Dave Mason. Published by 26-12 Music • Dave Mason (Lead Guitar) • Johnne Sambataro (Rhythm Guitar), • Renato Neto (Keyboard, Bass)  • Tal Bergman (Percussion) • Warren Hill (Saxophone) 

Written by N. Hernandez. Published by 26-12 Music • Dave Mason (Vocals, Lead Guitar, Strings), • Mike Finnigan