This performance is part of MAS Presents’ The Roots of Jazz series — a celebration of the rich history and lasting legacy of jazz in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, made possible with support from Denver Arts & Venues and the Five Points Jazz Grant.

All ages welcome | Doors @ 8 PM | Music @ 9 PM

MAS Presents is thrilled to welcome back Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell, joined by acclaimed pianist and composer Sean Mason. Catherine first performed in Denver on the MAS Presents stage in April 2015. This performance not only marks Catherine’s 10 year return to Denver but also the 10th anniversary of MAS Presents. In honor of this special occasion,

Coming together to create the breathtaking, Grammy-nominated album My Ideal (2024), Catherine and Sean tell a history of jazz, with fresh and inspired homages to James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, and to the confluence of jazz and popular music with tributes to Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra.

The album marks a significant milestone in both artists’ careers, capturing a powerful and intimate musical dialogue that transcends their impressive individual talents. Described as a very special project by Dot Records who released the album, My Ideal is not only Catherine’s first complete set of voice-and-piano duets, but Sean is a remarkable piano prodigy whose technical skill is only rivaled by his soulfulness. 

Both masters of jazz, their repertoires span the vast landscape of African-American and American popular music, from the blues and R&B to the Great American Songbook, Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. My Ideal represents a unique convergence of experience and youthful virtuosity, offering a fresh yet timeless sound.

A native New Yorker born into jazz royalty — Catherine’s father, Luis Russell, was Louis Armstrong’s longtime musical director, and her mother, Carline Ray, was a trailblazing musician in her own right — Catherine Russell has carved out her own legacy as one of today’s most captivating interpreters of American popular song.

With a sound rooted in tradition and driven by innovation, pianist and composer Sean Mason is one of the most exciting voices in jazz today. A rising star from Charlotte, North Carolina, Mason has earned acclaim for his powerful original compositions and fresh takes on classic jazz, blending deep musicality with a wide stylistic range.