Two bold new releases from arranger Mark Masters pay tribute to saxophone visionaries Billy Harper and Sam Rivers, highlighting their distinct musical legacies through inventive orchestrations and dynamic ensemble performances. Sam Rivers 100 and Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! will be released June 6, 2025, on Masters' longtime label, Capri Records. Both albums feature Harper as guest soloist, bringing his unmistakable voice to the fore.
Celebrating Sam Rivers and Billy Harper
On Sam Rivers 100, Masters commemorates the 100th birthday of avant-garde trailblazer Sam Rivers by diving into material from Rivers’ early Blue Note period, particularly the 1964 classic Fuchsia Swing Song. The album evolved from a 2023 concert series and includes arrangements of all six tracks from that debut album, plus additional selections performed by a chamber-sized version of the Mark Masters Ensemble.
Meanwhile, Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! explores Harper’s powerful and melodic catalog, spanning works written between 1972 and 2000. Known for his singular compositional voice, Harper’s music is treated with deep reverence and fresh perspective by Masters, whose orchestrations retain the spiritual force at the heart of Harper’s work.
“Each of [Harper’s] compositions is so different from the others. He doesn’t compose from a formula, so each of his tunes has a very distinct personality.” – Mark Masters
These projects reflect not only the contrasting styles of Rivers and Harper—Rivers with skeletal frameworks inviting improvisation; Harper with defined structures and deep melodic roots—but also the brilliance of Masters as an arranger capable of honoring both.
A Longstanding Creative Partnership
Masters' association with Harper goes back to 1990’s Priestess, his debut on Capri Records. Over the past 35 years, Masters has produced 15 albums with the Denver-based label, known for its support of jazz composers and arrangers.
“Billy Harper is a longtime hero of mine,” Masters explains. “He is a very gifted composer whose music is singular, and I also love his playing.”
Capri Records founder Tom Burns adds, “Mark and I have similar tastes in almost everything, but most importantly the music. He has a unique voice and never ceases to surprise me with his creativity.”
Ensemble Highlights
Sam Rivers 100 features a leaner lineup from the 13-piece ensemble and includes two fully improvised tracks that reflect Rivers’ freer inclinations. Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance! expands to a 17-piece orchestra with appearances by pianist Francesca Tanksley and trumpeter Tim Hagans—both longtime collaborators of Harper and Masters respectively.
Each album reveals different compositional and interpretative challenges. With Rivers, Masters restructured melodies and chord changes into larger forms, while Harper’s music required orchestrations that complemented his deeply written frameworks.
Mark Masters: Arranger, Educator, Visionary
Mark Masters has spent more than four decades shaping modern big band music with tributes to Dewey Redman, Clifford Brown, Jimmy Knepper, and others. He founded the non-profit American Jazz Institute and has collaborated with top-tier musicians including Gary Smulyan, Peter Erskine, Steve Kuhn, and Oliver Lake.
His recent projects include Sui Generis, a trumpet concerto for Tim Hagans; Masters & Baron Meet Blanton & Webster with Art Baron; and Blue Skylight, reinterpreting music by Mingus and Mulligan.
Album Info
Mark Masters Ensemble featuring Billy Harper
Sam Rivers 100
Capri Records – Capri 74173 – Recorded October 16, 2023
Dance, Eternal Spirits, Dance!
Capri Records – Capri 74176 – Recorded July 26, 2024
Release Date: June 6, 2025
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