“Feelin’ Alright?” did exactly that.
He Was More Than a Member of Traffic
It would be easy to remember Dave Mason simply as a founding member of Traffic.
But that would tell only a fraction of his story.
After his time with Traffic, Mason built an extraordinary career as a solo musician and collaborator.
He worked with some of the most important musicians of the twentieth century.
Jimi Hendrix.
Eric Clapton.
George Harrison.
Paul McCartney.
The Rolling Stones.
Fleetwood Mac.
These weren’t distant names from another musical universe.
Mason actually worked alongside them.
He appeared on important recordings and participated in sessions that connected him to some of rock music’s most influential artists.
His career sometimes seemed to place him exactly where musical history was being made.
Yet he rarely behaved as though he needed to be at the center of it.
That was part of his appeal.
A Musician’s Musician
There is a special category of artist sometimes described as a “musician’s musician.”
These are performers admired deeply by their peers.
Other musicians listen to them.
Guitarists study their playing.
Songwriters appreciate their craft.
Producers recognize what they bring into a recording.
Dave Mason belonged in that category.
His guitar playing was expressive without needing to become theatrical.
He understood restraint.
He understood tone.
He understood that sometimes the most powerful musical decision is the note you choose not to play.
That quality helped him move comfortably between different musical worlds.
Rock.
Blues.
Folk.
Pop.
Soul.
He wasn’t trapped by one style.
He followed the song.
The Solo Career
Mason’s solo career began to take shape in the early 1970s.
His 1970 album Alone Together became an important early statement of his individual musical identity.
The album showcased his songwriting, singing, guitar work, and ability to bring different musicians and influences together.
He continued releasing music through the following decades.
