Catherine Russell and Sean Mason Earn GRAMMY® Nomination for My Ideal (Dot Time Records)

My Ideal has been nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album at the 67th GRAMMY® Awards

Listen to “My Ideal” HERE

“This kind of duo means there is no place for the vocalist to hide any shortcomings. As Russell has none, you hear her marvelous voice lovingly caressing the lyrics. Her interplay with Mason is extraordinary." - No Depression

“Playful, easy and touching, My Ideal feels ideal as an album that’s both tender yet strong, new but familiar.” - The New York City Jazz Record

"A piano and a voice, nothing else – done right, it never gets old. Catherine Russell and Sean Mason do it right." - Relix

New York, NY - My Ideal, the new duo album by world-renowned vocalist Catherine Russell and prodigious pianist Sean Mason, has earned a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Released by Dot Time Records in August, My Ideal marks a significant milestone in both artists' careers, capturing a powerful and intimate musical dialogue. This is Russell’s first complete set of voice-and-piano duets and it is beautifully brought to life by a remarkable piano prodigy in Mason whose technical skill is only rivaled by his soulfulness. 

The 67th GRAMMY® Awards will take place on February 2, 2025. 

“Being able to record My Ideal with Sean Mason was a dream come true. Sean gives me great joy, his soul and genius shine through in every note. I am truly grateful to the voting members of the Recording Academy for this nomination. Many thanks to Sean and to our tireless team for unending support,” Catherine Russell shared in a statement. 

Sean Mason shared his own similar sentiments: “I am deeply honored and thrilled by My Ideal‘s GRAMMY nomination. Collaborating with Catherine Russell has been a profound experience, as she brings such depth and authenticity to every note. This project is a celebration of jazz’s timelessness and elegance, and it’s a privilege to see it recognized on such a prestigious stage. I’m grateful to Catherine, the talented team behind this record, and the GRAMMY® community for embracing it." 

This is Sean Mason’s first GRAMMY® nomination and Catherine’s third - she was previously nominated in the Best Jazz Vocal Album category for her albums Harlem On My Mind (2016), and Alone Together (2019). She was also a featured artist on the 2012 GRAMMY® winning soundtrack album for the HBO-TV show, Boardwalk Empire. 

My Ideal elevates the partnership of Mason and Russell to new heights, featuring a complete set of voice-and-piano duets that hark back to classic jazz traditions. Sean Mason, a remarkable talent, 25 years old at the time of this recording, complements Russell's vocal artistry with his sophisticated and nuanced piano playing. Despite his youth, Mason's deep understanding of jazz's history and techniques allows him to support and enhance Russell's performances brilliantly.

Catherine Russell and Sean Mason share a profound connection that transcends their impressive individual talents. Both masters of jazz, their repertoires span the vast landscape of African-American and American popular music, from the blues and R&B to the Great American Songbook, Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. This collaboration represents a unique convergence of experience and youthful virtuosity, offering a fresh yet timeless sound. Since its release in August, which was augmented by a Listening Party on WNYC’s All Of It with Alison Stewart, the album has garnered international acclaim and attention from outlets such as DownBeat, The Arts Desk, Relix, No Depression, and others. Revered critic Will Friedwald called the album a “modern classic”. 

Catherine and Sean will be celebrating their GRAMMY® nomination at Smoke Jazz Club in New York City for a series of performances December 5 - 8. Prior to Smoke, Catherine will be performing at Blues Alley in Washington DC November 29 and 30. 

Russell and Mason are proud to be nominated in this category alongside esperanza spalding and Milton Nascimento, Christie Dashiel, Samara Joy, and Kurt Elling and Sullivan Fortner. 

Catherine Russell Live Dates

November 29-30: Blues Alley, Washington DC 

December 5-8: Smoke Jazz Club, NYC - with Sean Mason 

January 12: Dizzy’s Jazz Club, NYC - with Sean Mason

January 18:  Under the Beams, New Harmony, IN - with Sean Mason

January 24-25: Jazz Forum, Tarrytown, NY - with Sean Mason