Damien Masterson Jazz Ensemble performs at the Jazz Station in Eugene
- Damien Masterson chromatic harmonica, saxophones, vocals
- Robert Bohall piano
- Eli Hansen bass
- Nik Barber drums
Heavily steeped in Jazz, Latin and African styles, Damien Masterson's music is an amalgamation of these different genres. At the age of 14, inspired by Blues masters Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Walter and Sonny Terry, Damien Masterson started playing diatonic harmonica. At 16, he received as a gift an alto saxophone, and applied the theory learned through sax lessons to another recent gift, the chromatic harmonica. Around that same time he was introduced to Altaneze Taylor, the founder of Bright Moments Music Lovers Club. Through her organization, he met and studied with professional musicians and learned about Jazz history and culture. As an adult he entered Laney College and studied with Ed Kelly. He later participated in an exchange program (aka “Intercambio”) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where he lived, studied, and played for the next two years. Upon returning from Brazil he was soon playing in the Bay Area’s top clubs with the area’s best Brazilian and Jazz musicians, resulting in the 1996 debut CD release, “Intercambio,” inspired by his overseas adventures. In 1997, after nine consecutive visits to Havana, Cuba, Damien produced “Cubacambio,” taking his passion for World Music, Jazz and Pop and melding them into one vision. “Cubacambio” is one of the first recordings featuring chromatic harmonica in an authentic Cuban setting. In following years, Damien expanded his performance and recording into many genres, mixing Jazz, Rock, Pop and World Music styles, searching for an elusive “sound” to express the music he heard growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the 70’s and 80’s. In 2009 Damien released “All Over the Map,” his first major release since “Cubacambio.” Considered one of his finest albums, it showcases his compositional and arranging talents, as well his trademark harmonica and saxophone chops. A collaborative effort with Bassist/Producer Jon Evans, Allison Miller (Drums), Julie Wolf (Keys) and many others, “All Over the Map” has been dubbed a “must have.” For the past 10+ years Damien has been searching for lost rhythms and atypical ways to syncopate his compositions. That exploration led him all over the world; but it was his discovery of certain styles of African music, especially Senegalese Mbalax, that captured his heart and soul. During 2009-2010 Damien traveled to Africa 4 times, studying, performing and recording in Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa, ultimately building a studio in Dakar, which allowed lower income artists to create recordings and demos. Damien was based in Dakar for several years, touring and sharing the stage with Alioune Mbaye Nder, Cheikh Lo, Omar Pene and Youssou Ndour among others. Damien is also a polyglot and can speak several languages fluently, including Portuguese, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and Wolof. Damien Masterson Endorses Hohner Harmonicas and Audix Microphones
