GO! COVER STORY: Memorial tribute finds reason to sing the blues

John-Alex Mason recorded a song called “Free” that appears on his last album, “Jook Joint Thunderclap,” that goes, in part, like this:

“I am gonna fly

because I am free

I am gonna fly

see what I can see

I am gonna fly

because I am free

I am gonna fly

see what’s left of me”

Besides the otherworldly connotations of the lyric, it represents his best work; his guitar was never growlier, boggier or more nimble, and his voice was never bigger. It’s Mason at his most evolved, the bombastic crossroads bluesman encapsulated in the soft-spoken, blond and blue-eyed package all grown into himself, and the gigantic hopefulness of the song is a tragedy in itself, because the fact is this: Mason recorded the song in 2010, and he died in 2011.

The loss of the beloved staple of the local blues scene was and still is staggering. John-Alex Mason was universally adored, both for the brand of swampily blithe blues he brought to the stage and for his offstage demeanor, which was tranquil, gentlemanly and cordial.

“When he sang, he was so loud and bold,” says KRCC program director and former “Blue Plate Special” host Jeff Bieri. “He had such a big, bold, powerful voice. And when he wasn’t onstage, he was quite reserved and kind of quiet. Something sort of clicked in him. When he was playing, it turned something on inside of him.”

Mason died on Oct. 19 from complications stemming from surgery, and Colorado Springs’ music community has rightfully struggled to do justice to a personality so beloved and influential. A fixture beyond the realm of a simple working musician, Mason, his guitars and his pedal-activated drum kit were a venerated part of the scene, and their disappearance has left a hole acutely felt and worthy of honoring.

That tribute will take the shape of a gathering Sunday at Colorado College’s Shove Chapel, where J-AM: A Musical Gathering for John-Alex Mason will take place. Organized by Bieri, Don Goede and Kathleen Fox Collins, the event will bring together musical friends from across Mason’s widely varied musical coterie. Scheduled performers include Bob Tudor, Grass It Up, Big Jim Adam, Grant Sabin, Changing Colours, the Haunted Windchimes and many others.

“(The musicians) were very eager. We kind of had to turn people away, because the slate is so full. It’s a 3-hour thing in Shove with local bands, people from Denver and national people. All were friends of John-Alex. Unfortunately, many are not going to be able to take the stage because the roster so full. We hope that the open mic will give people the chance.”

The open mic Bieri refers to will take place at Venue 515 at Manitou’s Business of Arts Center, where Mason had served on the board and been instrumental in helping to book. Venue 515 will host an after-party.

It goes without saying that both the tribute at Shove Chapel and the after-party will be veritable showcases for the musicians and fans Mason touched throughout his career and life. As a prominent contributor to the music scene for more than a decade, Mason also earned community and industry laurels: the Telluride Acoustic Blues Competition in 2001, a Pikes Peak Arts Council Award in 2011, and numerous records, festival appearances and tour dates in between.

Mason’s impact was not limited to his music, however, as his connections and contacts helped broaden the experience for all music lovers in Colorado. He was in many ways a weaver of connections, a builder of webs and networks that continue after his death to enrich the community.

“John-Alex was kind of a source for me to connect with these artists that I wouldn’t have seen,” Bieri says. “It started with Robert Belfour. He had met John-Alex in Mississippi when he took the groups on a Colorado Springs School field trip. Belfour is this crusty old guy. He doesn’t believe in booking agents. He doesn’t trust anybody. I mentioned that I wanted to get a hold of him, and John-Alex pulls out his cellphone and says, ‘I’ve got his number.’ He did the same thing with Valerie June.

“He was well-connected, a friendly guy when out on the road. Very friendly, cordial, gentlemanly, really well-bred, very appreciative and respectful. He called Robert Belfour ‘Mister Belfour,’ which is nice.”

Mason’s respect for those who helped pave his stylistic path was also passed on to aspiring musicians, Mason having led road trips to delta country for the edification and education of kids just getting into blues. J-AM will honor this as well, with contributions from the events benefiting the John-Alex Mason Scholarship Fund.

The loss of a figure like Mason, who radiated positivity and oozed talent and furthermore helped build up those around him, is keenly felt, and Bieri explains that J-AM is in many ways a step toward making sense of that loss in a public and musical way.

“When this happened, people started coming to us to find answers to this thing that had no answers. I guess that it’s what this is: to put some sort of meaning on it, or to at least bring people together to be bewildered together.”

Adds co-organizer Don Goede, “Considering the tragedy, there are so many things that are so positive coming out of it, strengthening the community. He was so into the community. That’s all you can do, really respect what you think people would want.”