BIO
Raymond James Mason is one of the most sought-after trombonists in pop music. At 35, he’s among the most versatile studio and touring musicians of his generation, blending skill with artistry in pop music horn sections. Ray has shared stages and recordings with icons like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars, and Erykah Badu. His TV highlights include performing at the 2020 Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, The Academy Awards, Saturday Night Live, and the GRAMMYS. In the studio, Ray’s horn sections are heard on “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, as well as albums by Lizzo, The Roots, Macklemore, and Norah Jones. His arranging work has supported artists like Ed Sheeran and Beck, while his compositions feature in ads for Nike and Marvel soundtracks. A GRAMMY nominee with Antibalas, Ray has played global festivals, Carnegie Hall, and collaborated with legends such as Chaka Khan and the late Bill Withers. Ray is currently the trombonist and horn section leader for Lauren Daigle and performs with Elvis Costello as well as his co-led projects with Jeff Coffin (Wild Iris Brass Band), and Jake Botts (Crooked Rhythm Band No. 1). Ray is a proud NYU graduate, mentored by icons like Lenny Pickett and Brian Lynch. Born and raised in New York, with stints in Nashville and now Los Angeles, his career embodies excellence, adaptability, and creative depth.
Ray performs on Yamaha and Bach instruments.
Trombonist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer with roots in New york, nashville, and los angeles.
At 35, Raymond James Mason has rapidly carved out a place as a sought-after studio musician and one of the leading trombonists in the high-demand world of pop music horn section work.
From Taylor Swift to Ed Sheeran, Alicia Keys to Bruno Mars, Erykah Badu to Kelly Clarkson—Ray has performed alongside an eclectic roster of superstars across generations. His expansive career bridges genres, with notable collaborations including Don Henley, The Roots, Randy Newman, David Byrne, Jessie J, and many more.
Ray's presence on Live TV is equally impressive. He was a key player in the 2020 Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, and performed with Eminem at the Academy Awards that same year. Other notable TV appearances include Saturday Night Live with Bruno Mars, The GRAMMY Awards with Nas, and the CMA Awards with Earth, Wind & Fire and Lady A.
A seasoned touring artist, Ray has lent his trombone and multi-instrumental skills to acclaimed acts such as Bon Iver, Mumford & Sons, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Mark Ronson, FELA! The Musical, Lukas Graham, GRiZ, Valerie June, Bright Eyes, and Broken Social Scene, among others.
As a studio trombonist, Ray's horn section work is featured on global hits like “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars. His credits also include records by Mac Miller, Lizzo, The Roots, Macklemore, Norah Jones, Little Big Town, and more. He’s contributed to projects on renowned labels like Daptone, Truth & Soul, and Big Crown, including Charles Bradley's “Change For The World,” Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' “Soul of a Woman,” and Lee Fields & The Expressions' “It Rains Love.”
Ray’s arranging skills have found their place with top producers including Dan Auerbach, Mark Ronson, Adam Blackstone, Diplo, El Michels Affair, and Danger Mouse. He’s written for artists like Ed Sheeran, Lee Fields, Beck, Kelis, and Yola.
In the world of soundtracks, Ray’s work appears in major releases like the Amazon Prime Sports Theme, The Boys Season 3, The Get Down on Netflix, and upcoming projects for Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and AppleTV+. His music also resonates in ads for global brands such as Nike, Facebook, Taco Bell, and Garnier, alongside shows like Marvel’s Captain America on Disney+, Suits on USA, Made For Love on HBO Max, and the theme for Barry on HBO.
As a member of the Brooklyn afrobeat collective Antibalas, Ray earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Global Music Album in 2020. His work with Antibalas has taken him to festivals around the world, where he’s shared the stage with artists like My Morning Jacket, Brittany Howard, The Roots, Dr. John, Angelique Kidjo, and even Bill Withers in his final Carnegie Hall performance.
Ray's musical foundation was built at NYU, where he studied under some of the most respected trombonists of our time: Tom Hutchinson, Mark Patterson, Robin Eubanks, Alan Ferber, and Elliot Mason. His mentorships with SNL Bandleader Lenny Pickett, GRAMMY-winning composer Brian Lynch, and Director of NYU Jazz Dave Pietro deepened his approach to the wide-ranging musical landscape of the 21st century.
A native New Yorker, Ray spent over a decade honing his craft in NYC, followed by five years in Nashville, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife.
TOUR EXPERIENCE
in chronological order
Fela! The Musical off-Broadway U.S. tour, Jan-June 2013
Antibalas Trombonist and Conductor, 2013-2022, USA, UK, Europe, Japan, South America, opening for Arcade Fire, Daptone Super Soul Revue, Zap Mama + Antibalas
Red Baraat select tour dates 2014, 2016
Taylor Swift 1989 promo tour, August 2014-January 2015, performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, iHeart Radio Festival, Jingle Ball NY, Hollywood Bowl, Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year Eve
Mark Ronson Uptown Special Tour, Summer 2015, UK, Europe, Australia
Lukas Graham 7 Years U.S. Tour, January-December 2016, performed at iHeart Radio Beach Festival, MTV Video Music Awards
Bonobo select U.S. tour dates 2017 including Coachella and 2022 including The Greek Theatre
Lady A You Look Good World Tour, January-October 2017, performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, iHeart Country Festival, CMA Fest, CMA Awards with Earth, Wind, & Fire, venues such as London O2 Arena, Bridgestone Arena, Hollywood Bowl
Bon Iver 22 a million tour, spring 2018, performance highlights include Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge and Bonnaroo 2018 SuperJam. Arranged horns for SuperJam
Angelique Kidjo select tour dates including a trip to NYU Arts Center Abu Dhabi
Mumford & Sons Delta radio promo tour, December 2019
Devon Gilfillian Summer 2021 tour including Newport Folk Festival
Bright Eyes Spring 2022 U.S. Tour
Brett Eldredge Glow Christmas Tour 2022
GRiZ 2023 Final Tour, Bonnaroo
Elvis Costello Summer 2023 Tour with The Imposters and Charlie Sexton, Newport Jazz Festival 2024
Ziggy Marley 2024 Circle of Peace Tour
Lauren Daigle The Kaleidoscope Tour 2023-24, Kaleidoscope Nights 2024
TELEVISION HIGHLIGHTS
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2023 with Chaka Khan, H.E.R., Sia, Common, The Spinners, and New Edition
The Academy Awards 2020 with Eminem, 2022 as tenor/bass trombonist of the orchestra
The Grammy Awards 2022 tribute performance with Nas
Pepsi Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show 2020 with Jennifer Lopez and Shakira
Maya & Marty on NBC house band trombonist
Saturday Night Live Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon The Roots, Brittany Howard, My Morning Jacket, tUnE-yArDs, Barry Gibb
The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon Randy Newman, Meghan Trainor, Erykah Badu, Bilal feat. The Roots, Muse, Bastille, Lukas Graham, Maren Morris
Good Morning America Taylor Swift, Jessie J, Jordan Smith, Lady A
The Today Show Kelly Clarkson, Lauren Daigle
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Don Henly
Conan Lukas Graham
Jimmy Kimmel Live! Taylor Swift, Lady A, Lukas Graham, Lauren Daigle
CMA Awards Lady A and Earth, Wind, & Fire
ACM Awards Lady A
CMAFEST 2022 with Lady A, 2023 with Keith Urban
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Kelly Clarkson
Live! With Kelly and Ryan Cee-Lo Green
COMMERCIAL SINGLES HIGHLIGHTS
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars- Uptown Funk
Mac Miller- Ladders
Lizzo- Break Up Twice
Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey- Glorious
Norah Jones- Christmas Don’t Be Late
The Black Keys- Beautiful People (Stay High)
Daptone Super Soul Revue- Live at the Apollo
Charles Bradley- Change For The World
Sessions with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Lee Fields and The Expressions, Curtis Harding, El Michels Affair, Menahan Street Band, Jack Penate, Angelique Kidjo, Craig Finn, The Arcs, Yola, Rodney Crowell, Lady A, Aaron Frazer
STUDIO HORN ARRANGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
2021, Yola “Stand For Myself”- arranged and played all horns (trombone, bass trombone, trumpet, mellophone, tenor saxophone) on “Break The Bough”, “Now You’re Here”, and “Dancing Away in Tears” Grammy Nominated for Best Americana Album 2022
2020, Aaron Frazer “Introducing…”- arranged and played trombone and trumpet on tracks such as “If I Got It (Your Love Brought It)”, “Can’t Leave it Alone”, “Girl on the Phone”
2016, Resistance Radio: The Man in the High Castle Album - arranged all horns and played trombone, bass trombone, flugabone on tracks such as “Can’t Help Falling in Love” performed by Beck, “A Taste of Honey” performed by The Shins, “Love Hurts” performed by Grandaddy and “I Only Have Eyes for You” as performed by Kevin Morby.
SELECTED SOUNDTRACK WORK
“Barbie” the movie soundtrack
“The Get Down” soundtrack on Netflix
“Mortdecai" Soundtrack prod. by Mark Ronson
“Then There Were Two”- single for “Spies in Disguise” soundtrack by Mark Ronson and Anderson .paak
“It Ain’t Fair”- The Roots feat. Bilal, for the “Detroit” soundtrack
“Do-Dilly-Do (A Friend Like You)”- single for “Missing Link”
The Boys Season 3 on Amazon Video
Amazon Prime Sports Theme Song
Dead Space 3 trailer
Studio work has been featured on shows such as “Captain America and The Winter Soldier”
Upcoming releases for Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, and more
COMMERCIAL COMPOSITION WORK
Composed music for brands such as Kiehl’s, Tiffany & Co, arranged and performed horns on tracks for international brands such as Guinness, Facebook, Nike, Taco Bell and non-profits such as the National Abortion Fund Network
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2015 GRAMMY Record of the Year- Uptown Funk (winner, trombonist)
2018 GRAMMY Best Hip Hop Album- Mac Miller “Ladders” (nomination, trombonist)
2021 GRAMMY Best Global Music Album- Antibalas “Fu Chronicles” (nomination, trombonist, group member)
2022 GRAMMY Americana Album of the Year- Yola “Stand For Myself” (nomination, trombonist)
2024 GRAMMY Best Alternative Rock Song- The Black Keys, “Beautiful People (Stay High)”
