Ted Mason

Biography

Ted Mason is a former member of the multiplatinum British rock/pop band Modern English, former Journalist for the British Newspaper the Guardian UK and an EMMY nominated film producer. The band has sold over 4 million records in the United States with hit songs such as Melt with you, “Hands across the Sea, Ricochet Days,” 16 Days to name a few. He is a producer, composer (composing and producing the music for the Academy Award-winning HBO doc “Prudence’s Song”) as well as a lead guitarist, Classical/Flamenco/Bebop guitarist, singer, songwriter he is President of his own Record Label Mi5 Recordings, a Universal distributed label. As a producer Mr. Mason has worked some of the most successful artists in music and in every Genre from Rock, Soul, Hip Hop, Classical, World Music to Rai Music.

Artists worked with as musician, producer, and label rep: AKON, Chris Brown, Mary J Blige, Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Santana, Pharrell Williams, Ne-Yo, Snoop Dogg, Cheb Khaled, Rachid Taha, Gang Starr, Dead Prez, Midge Ure, Bob Geldof, the Verve, Jesus and the Mary Chain, Prince, Papa Wemba, DJ Khaled, Youssou N’dour, Sandra Bernhard, Real Roxanne, Macy Grey, Thomas Mapfumo, and Peter Gabriel, Common, Too Short, Ringo Starr, Timmy Allen, Wyclef Jean, Jesus Jones, Mercan Dede, Salif Keita, Infamous Mobb, Wu-Tang, Ali Campbell (UB40), Shaggy, Prodigy (Mobb Deep), The Prodigy (Mi5 UK), Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Billy Ocean, Diblo Dibala, Lokua Kansa, mathematics, Fishbone, Defari, Lucky Diop, to name a few.

Mr. Mason has worked as a producer/musician with such artists as Artists worked with as musician, producer, and label rep: AKON, Chris Brown, Mary J Blige, Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Santana, Pharrell Williams, Ne-Yo, Snoop Dogg, Cheb Khaled, Rachid Taha, Gang Starr, Dead Prez, Midge Ure, Bob Geldof, the Verve, Jesus and the Mary Chain, Prince, Papa Wemba, DJ Khaled, Youssou N’dour, Sandra Bernhard, Real Roxanne, Macy Grey, Thomas Mapfumo, and Peter Gabriel, Common, Too Short, Ringo Starr, Timmy Allen, Wyclef Jean, Jesus Jones, Mercan Dede, Salif Keita, Infamous Mobb, Wu-Tang, Ali Campbell (UB40), Shaggy, Prodigy (Mobb Deep), The Prodigy (Mi5 UK), Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Billy Ocean, Diblo Dibala, Lokua Kansa, mathematics, Fishbone, Defari, Lucky Diop, Macy Gray, Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Juan Carmona, Paco de Lucia, Metropolitan Opera, to name a few. In 2010 he toured in Central Africa backed by Rwanda's Soukous All Stars and a duet with Lokua Kanza while producing the Fes Pad concert series for the country of Rwanda. He is currently producing a new solo album, an album with Hip Hop superstars Mobb Deep and a duet with Wyclef Jean and Mona Lisa.

Guitar Style Ted Mason studied classical guitar at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He has mastered a variety of styles including Bebop, Classical and Flamenco, Tapping, Stanley Jordan 2 handed tapping, Rock, Shredder, Arabic and Rai. He is one of very few Guitarists to master the 11 string alto guitar transcribing Debussy, Ravel and other composers music from Piano/Harp to the guitar utilizing a mix of standard classical technique, made up fingering and two handed tapping (on Nylon Strings). The 11 String Alto guitar has a 4 inch neck, 5 1/2 octaves (Guitar has 3 1/2), and if played right, sounds like the Concert Harp. In terms of a Rock guitarist, Mr. Mason has developed a unique style.

Film Production Mr. Mason has also worked as a composer and film producer on many films including the HBO Academy Award-winning documentary film project "Music By Prudence," directed Roger Ross Williams. Mr. Mason was also nominated Emmy Nominated Music/film producer for the same film. Past directors he has worked with included Miloš Forman. He also works closely with his wife Jennifer Brunetti, (former company owner of Fbi Productions, Inc.) in producing video, film and live concert events most notably "Volvo for Life Awards" which included production logistics and booking of such acts as Sheryl Crow, Ziggy Marley, and Suzanne Vega.

Discography

partial listing of productions and Mi5 Recordings Universal Music Group releases https://www.reverbnation.com/Mi5recordings Partner label releases High Times Records http://www.allmusic.com/artist/high-times-records-mn0000319444

Producing

Mr. Mason has worked as a producer/musician with numerous artists. In 2010 he toured in Central Africa backed by Rwanda's Soukous All Stars and a duet with Lokua Kanza while producing the Fes Pad concert series for the country of Rwanda. He is currently producing a new solo album, an album with Hip Hop superstars Mobb Deep and a duet with Wyclef Jean and Mona Lisa.

Productions and releases include working with the following artists: AKON, Chris Brown, Mary J Blige, Jeff Beck, Robert Plant, Carlos Santana, Pharrell Williams, Ne-Yo, Snoop Dogg, Cheb Khaled, Rachid Taha, Gang Starr, Dead Prez, Midge Ure, Bob Geldof, the Verve, Jesus and the Mary Chain, Prince, Papa Wemba, DJ Khaled, Youssou N’dour, Sandra Bernhard, Real Roxanne, Macy Grey, Thomas Mapfumo, and Peter Gabriel, Common, Too Short, Ringo Starr, Timmy Allen, Wyclef Jean, Jesus Jones, Mercan Dede, Salif Keita, Infamous Mobb, Wu-Tang, Ali Campbell (UB40), Shaggy, Prodigy (Mobb Deep), The Prodigy (Mi5 UK), Donna Summer, Keith Diamond, Billy Ocean, Diblo Dibala, Lokua Kansa, mathematics, Fishbone, Defari, Lucky Diop, Macy Gray, Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, Joe Pass, Herb Ellis, Juan Carmona, Paco de Lucia, Metropolitan Opera, to name a few. In 2010 he toured in Central Africa backed by Rwanda's Soukous All Stars and a duet with Lokua Kanza while producing the Fes Pad concert series for the country of Rwanda.

Currently working on a Guitar Player Magazine record label with Michael Molenda and a reality or honors show which is in production.

Film production

Mr. Mason has also worked as a composer and film producer on many films including the HBO Academy Award-winning documentary film project "Music By Prudence," directed Roger Ross Williams. He is an EMMY nominated music producer and is currently involved in producing numerous music videos for his artists as well as full length independent film productions. Past directors included Miloš Forman and Academy Award Film director Roger Ross Williams. He also works closely with his wife Jennifer Brunetti, (former company owner of FBI Productions, Inc.) in producing video, film and live concert events most notably "Volvo for Life Awards" which included production logistics and booking of such acts as Sheryl Crow, Ziggy Marley, and Suzanne Vega. Currently he is working on his new album and working closely as a partner with musician, producer, songwriter extraordinaire Jerry Wonder and Wonda Music.

Background

Mr. Mason grew up in both UK and San Francisco to a mixed parentage. Father was from Sheffield, Mother from Nicaragua.