Janette Mason is a band leader, keyboard virtuoso and gifted improviser who has been a standout talent in Jazz, Pop, Indie Rock and World Music. From her high profile gigs throughout the 90s as keyboardist /side (wo)man recording and touring with artists like Seal, Oasis, k.d.Lang and Robert Wyatt, she spent a number of years on camera as Music Director for Jonathan Ross and Antoine De Caunnes on their hit British television chat shows .
Her skills as a composer led her to write music for ‘Sex in the City’, ‘The Drew Carey Show’ and most recently an incredible score for the 2008 feature film ‘Ruby Blue’ starring Bob Hoskins.
‘Din and Tonic’ , her hit debut Album of original Jazz compositions and inspired improvisations, was shortlisted by Guardian Jazz Critic John Fordham as a contender for Jazz album of the yearâ€
Spring 2008 brings the release of her eagerly awaited second album ‘Alien Left Hand’ featuring Julian Siegel, Tom Arthurs, Lea DeLaria, Dudley Phillips and New York Drummer Josh Guinta. On it she showcases her formidable talents as a composer /pianist/arranger/bandleader.
Janette grew up in a musical family, and was inspired by her mother-- a professional jazz pianist and vibes player for big bands of the 50s and who later went on to lead her own quartet, playing Hammond Organ.
Janette’s began studying classical piano at the age of five, and although she showed great musical ability she was never happy playing the same piece the same way twice. It was around this time that she began experimenting with improvisation and composition. A chance encounter with a Television series featuring the Oscar Peterson Trio cemented her iconoclastic wildly original ear and flair for dynamic, surprising music firmly anchored in her incredible talent and diverse musical experience.