Biography David Caldwell-Mason began playing the piano at the age of 5. He studied classical music almost exclusively until his mid teens, when he discovered jazz. From this point on, he began splitting his time between improvised music, composition, and classical music. Upon enrolling in Simon’s Rock College of Bard, he joined Larry Lewis’ (of the Ohio Players) “Solid Smoke,” an R&B band that worked in Albany, Schenectady, and Saratoga (NY). It was at this time that he was first exposed to the music of James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. After receiving his Associate of Arts degree, David was interested in continuing his education near New York, so he enrolled in the jazz program at William Paterson University. It was there that he really began to blossom as a musician, and formed what would be some of his most important musical relationships. While at William Paterson, David studied under the tutelage of Armen D...