Jason Masi
Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Music
Press
The debut solo release from Jason Masi who is probably best known as a member of the band Jubeus. Balance & Pull features nice, smooth, hummable songs that might best be described as American-inspired organic pop. The tempos are solid yet laid back...and the vocals delivered with appropriate restraint. For an underground release, Pull has a great deal of commercial appeal. We could easily hear these songs being picked up by commercial radio or as backing music for any number of cable television programs. Eleven soothing cuts here including "Dust & Bone," "In The Afternoon," and "Ease Your Worried Mind." Good solid stuff delivered with heart and soul. - LMNOP aka dONW7 (babysue.com)
..the first thing that strikes me while listening to this 11 track album is how passionate it sounds. It is definitely a mix of a bit everything, all from roots country to folk rock and soul to alternative blues. Why not describe Jason´s music as Willie Nelson on a picnic with Dave Matthews Band playing songs by John Mayer. I really like the groove in these songs that shows what a good songwriter Jason is...
- melodic.net
....Plenty of jangly guitar, banjo, mandolin, organ and time-worn vocals...Masi knows how to write songs. Even better, he knows how to perform them....There's more than a touch of soul (think Mike Younger, especially the references to the Band), and everything is delivered with style. Masi doesn't oversell anything, leaving these songs with just enough of a laid-back feel to pull everything together...the plethora of sounds frames these songs well. There isn't a hint of strain anywhere, which is impressive and unusual.-aidabet.com - aidabet.com
....Balance & Pull’ is a very down home, simple album, more often stripping things down to just the man & his guitar. Masi has a very soulful voice and rides a fine line between folk-rock and country twang. You can clearly hear southern roots in his music along with bluesy riffs and wonderful story telling. ‘Balance & Pull’ makes for a great record to relax to. The songs are mellow and soothing as is Masi’s voice and playing. Themes of faith and finding happiness in what you have are echoed throughout the album... - Little Rat Bastard
Jubeus - Natural Mood, Dragonfly Studios
Light the candles, pour the wine or your other favorite libation for seduction - and then off with the lights and everything else. Favorite “Love Is In The Air,” is just one of the romantic offerings on this nice compilation of easy-to-listen-to, poignant, tug at your heart strings songs from this Richmond, VA band. Soft and jazzy, Natural Mood would be an excellent addition for your library for those “special” occasions or a rainy day. Jason Masi (vocals, guitar) has written some exceptional songs and delivers them with a tender forcefulness. Other members are Mike Jarvis (bass, vocals), Seth Thomas (guitar - not the clock), Eric Jack (drums), and Brian Reed (keyboards)...Other standouts are, “Lotus,” “Silence” and “Up Your Sleeve.” Buy a ticket and get on board, Natural Mood is worth the fare.
(Skid Dickson)
www.harderbeat.com
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Jubeus is probably one of the most eclectic-sounding bands I've heard in a while. They have the ability to mix funk, soul, Latin, rock and numerous other types into one album-not an easily successful feat.
The tracks are easy listening and really exhibit a breath of fresh air with the use of more than the typical trio of guitar, bass, and drums. The high-quality vocals are strong and reminiscent of performers like Edwin McCain. The instrumentals however, are in a genre all their own and in this case, that's not a bad thing. Jubeus pulls off their attempt at something new and something they call their own. This album does not have a stale, boring sound in the least and you will be compelled to listen to the entire thing, wondering what they will come up with next. It's strange, it's daring, and it works. HotIndieNews-Sharon Tharpe
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Jubeus
Natural Mood
While displaying shades of Maroon 5 and Incubus, Natural Mood proves Jubeus are naturals when it comes to funky roots rock.
Breaking into the music scene as a college band in 2005, Mood is the Richmond, Va. natives’ sophomore release—and they’ve taken their sound to dazzling new heights. A variety of styles are exposed: “Lotus” is a mellow, feel-good tune, while “Let’s Pick Up Ourselves” qualifies as a successful flirtation with Latin pop. Tracks like “Silence” and “Until I Get There” suck you in from the first beat.
With their bass-driven grooves drenched with wah-heavy guitar riffs, synthetic organ and frontman [Jason Masi's] stellar vocals, Natural Mood makes it clear that these college boys have graduated from dorm rooms and frat houses. —Laura Idema, Performing Songwriter
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Jubeus
Natural Mood
Rock
2007, Indie
It's not hard to imagine this blaring out of every dorm room on campus. Strong vocals abound. www.addreviews.com
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2008 Men That Rock url
http://www.therichmondbuzz.com/JasonMAsiTheRichmondBuzz.html - Various
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Jason Masi is an American/DC based singer-songwriter. He got his start with a popular Richmond, VA based group, Jubeus, opening for acts like Blind Melon, Everclear, and SOJA and releasing two well received albums, "Two Tone Circles" 2004 and "Natural Mood" 2007, respectively. The latter was named as a top DIY (Do-It-Yourself) release by Performing Songwriter Magazine.
He stepped out as a solo artist in 2009, trading in the band's roots-jam driven rock for a more acoustic soul/r&b songwriter approach. He has since released two solo albums, "Balance & Pull", 2010 and "Life Is Wonderful", 2012. His transition has led him to supporting slots for hit songwriters like Bleu and Darryl Worley, and has kept him busy on the road performing over 250 shows per year.
Masi's freshman solo record was released to noteworthy reviews, as well as significant radio airplay, charting in the top 200 college radio charts and being included on radio host, George Graham's, Best Albums of the Year list. His follow up solo effort, "Life Is Wonderful", gained additional support and was licensed for use on a number of TV networks (Discovery, MTV, Oxygen) and placed in online commercials, tutorials, E-books and game apps.
Parallels in Masi's sound can be drawn between soul artists like Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers, folk and blues icons like Van Morrison and James Taylor as well as modern songwriters in the vein of Mat Kearney, Damien Rice and James Morrison. His songs are often reflective and thought provoking, yet maintain a free spirited and light hearted tone. Masis songwriting explore the complexity of love and compromise from a unique, but relatable perspective.
He approaches his music in much the same way he does life. His laid back and easy going personality translates into the lyrics and tone of his music yet his performances are energetic and portray him as the hardworking musician he is. It's a contrast that suits Masi well, as he goes from hobnobbing with his new fans like they are old pals, and catching up with longtime fans before he takes the stage for a four hour set.
Currently, Masi is in the studio working on his 3rd solo record (5th studio release) with producer, Mark Williams, of Sucker Punch Studios, in Bethesda MD. It is slated for release in early 2014.
PRESS
"MASI HAS A VERY SOULFUL VOICE...YOU CAN CLEARLY HEAR SOUTHERN ROOTS IN HIS MUSIC WITH BLUESY RIFFS AND WONDERFUL STORY TELLING." - LITTLE RAT BASTARD
"THE FIRST THING THAT STRIKES ME...IS HOW PASSIONATE IT SOUNDS. I REALLY LIKE THE GROOVE IN THESE SONGS THAT SHOWS WHAT A GOOD SONGWRITER JASON IS..." -MELODIC.NET
"MASI KNOWS HOW TO WRITE SONGS. EVEN BETTER, HE KNOWS HOW TO PERFORM THEM...MASI DOESN'T OVERSELL ANYTHING...THERE ISN'T A HINT OF STRAIN ANYWHERE, WHICH IS IMPRESSIVE AND UNUSUAL." -AIDABET.COM
"A GREAT DEAL OF COMMERCIAL APPEAL FOR AN UNDERGROUND RELEASE...WE COULD EASILY HEAR THESE SONGS BEING PICKED UP BY COMMERCIAL RADIO OR AS BACKING MUSIC FOR A NUMBER OF CABLE TELEVISION PROGRAMS..GOOD SOLID STUFF DELIVERED WITH HEART AND SOUL." -BABYSUE.COM
"...MAJOR USP IS MASI'S VOICE, WHICH IS ONE OF THOSE SOULFUL ONES THAT COULD MAKE THE BACK OF A CORNFLAKES PACKET SOUND SULTRY. HE CAN EMOTE WITH THE BEST OF THEM TOO..." -AMERICANA UK
"JASON MASI IS SOMEONE YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH HIS SOUNDS, HIS LYRICS, AND THEN GO FIND HIM AT AS MANY OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVALS AS POSSIBLE!" -LOVE SOUND MAGAZINE
Band Members
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