Tenor saxophonist James Mahone gained a substantial and eminently well earned reputation as a co-founder of the jazz ensemble Black/Note, which won first prize at the John Coltrane Young Artist Competition in 1991 and recorded albums on World Stage (43rd and Degnan, 1991)  Red Records (L.A. Underground, 1994), Columbia (Jungle Music, 1994) and Impulse (Nothin’ But the Swing, 1996).

Black/Note had its roots in the jazz program at Cal State Northridge, where Mahone was studying alongside bassist Mark Anthony (Marcus) Shelby. In 1990, Shelby learned of Billy Higgins’ World Stage in Leimert Park, which had open jam sessions where Shelby met trumpeter Richard Grant. Black/Note, with Shelby, Grant, Mahone and drummer Willie Jones III, grew out of these sessions. They had their first gig as a unit in 1991. Among Black/Note’s first pianists were Eric Reed and Kenneth Crouch, but when they recorded a live date, released as 43rd and Degnan on the World Stage label, Ark Sano had become the band’s regular pianist. When Grant received a scholarship to Rutgers in February 1992, he left the band. After a period as a quartet, Gilbert Castellanos became the group’s new trumpeter.

After Black/Note, James Mahone went east to study at New School and then had a fruitful sojourn in Japan before coming to the Bay Area, where he’s been a much appreciated, and exquisite, performer in a fertile jazz scene.