Doris Mason

Doris started playing the piano at age 3 and hasn’t stopped since.
Coming from a big musical family meant singing with her 4 sisters
and discovering harmony at age 5.
Studying with the nuns in Catholic School, then Vesta Mosher, who
had her training in London, England, Doris completed her Grade 10
piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Halifax came after high school and she co-founded the Mason Chapman
Band with Bruce Chapman, recording a self-titled LP.
Doris was approached to lead the band in a Revue-style show called
the Rise and Follies of Cape Breton Island. After one summer she continued
on as performer and contributing writer in the Cape Breton Summertime Revue for 9 more seasons.
Ms. Mason recorded her first solo CD “Photograph” which earned her an
ECMA nomination.
She has shared the stage with many greats, including Dionne Warwick,
Mavis Staples, Jeff Healy and Valdy.
She has been a part of Denny Doherty’s “Dream A Little Dream-the Nearly
True Story of The Mamas and Papas”, which had 2 separate runs at Neptune
Theatre, 6 months in NYC, 6 weeks in Cleveland, Kansas City, Rockville
Maryland, a summer in Toronto and tour of Atlantic Canada.
Doris has been the Musical Director of “DRUM!”, featuring founding cultures
of Nova Scotia, which encompasses rhythm, song, dance and history.
ELLA-VATION! Is a 10 piece tribute to Ella Fitzgerald that has been Doris’
homage to the 1st Lady of Song, conceived and put together with Dave Staples, Jeff Goodspeed and Andrew Alcorn.
Along with N.S.’s finest musicians, Doris was an instructor at both Acadia
Jazz Camp and N.S. Honour Jazz. She has been in Cuba and performed at
the Jazz Cafe with Jorge Chicoy and the National Auditorium Amadeo
Roldan in Havana with Los Primos.
Doris has performed with Symphony Nova Scotia several times as a featured
artist and also as arranger on other concerts.
Singing with Back Alley is a thrill. Superb arrangements and Mega-musicians!