George Masso (November 17, 1926 – October 22, 2019) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

trombonist, bandleader,

vibraphonist The vibraphone is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone is called a ''vibraphonist,'' ''vibraharpist,' ...

, and composer specializing in swing and

Dixieland Dixieland jazz, also referred to as traditional jazz, hot jazz, or simply Dixieland, is a style of jazz based on the music that developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century. The 1917 recordings by the Original Dixieland Jass Band ...

. Masso is notable for his work from 1948–1950 as a member of the

Jimmy Dorsey James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peop ...

band. Masso was born in

Cranston, Rhode Island Cranston, once known as Pawtuxet, is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island. The official population of the city in the 2020 United States Census was 82,934, making it the second largest in the state. The center of population of Rhode Island ...

, United States. Masso began learning to play the trumpet, but expanded his diversity by becoming competent on other instruments. He was further inspired by hearing

Lou McGarity Robert Louis McGarity (July 22, 1917 – August 28, 1971) was an American jazz trombonist who was a member of the Benny Goodman big band during the late 1930s and early 1940s. After serving in the military, he was a studio musician in New York Ci ...

playing trombone on Benny Goodman's recording of "Yours". Masso secured a two year spell in the late 1940s in

's band, before finding the life of a professional jazz musician financially difficult, and Masso quit performing. He became a music teacher. He returned to music in 1973 and performed with

Bobby Hackett Robert Leo Hackett (January 31, 1915 – June 7, 1976) was an American jazz musician who played trumpet, cornet, and guitar with the bands of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Hackett was a featured soloist o ...

and Goodman. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he recorded with Barbara Lea, Bob Haggart, and

Yank Lawson John Rhea "Yank" Lawson (May 3, 1911 – February 18, 1995) was an American jazz trumpeter known for Dixieland and swing music. Born John Lausen in 1911, from 1933 to 1935 he worked in Ben Pollack's orchestra and after that became a founding ...

Discography

As leader

* ''Choice N.Y.C. Bone'' (Famous Door, 1979) * ''A Swinging Case of Masso-Ism'' (Famous Door, 1981) * ''Dialogue at Condon's with Al Klink'' (World Jazz, 1981) * ''Pieces of Eight'' (Dreamstreet, 1982) * ''No Frills, Just Music'' (Famous Door, 1984) * ''Just for a Thrill'' (Sackville, 1990) * ''Play Arlen'' with

Spike Robinson Henry Bertholf "Spike" Robinson (January 16, 1930 – October 29, 2001) was a jazz tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, recording on several labels, including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering degree and ...

(Hep, 1992) * ''Let's Be Buddies'' with

Dan Barrett Dan Barrett is an American musician from Connecticut, New England. He is a member of the rock duo Have a Nice Life. Outside of this, he has released solo work primarily under the names Giles Corey and Black Wing. In 2003, he founded the record labe ...

(Arbors, 1994) * ''That Old Gang of Mine'' (Arbors, 1997) * ''Just Friends'' with

Ken Peplowski Ken Peplowski (born May 23, 1959) is an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and known primarily for playing swing music. For over a decade, Peplowski recorded for Concord Records. In ...

(Nagel Heyer, 2002)

As sideman

With

World's Greatest Jazz Band The World's Greatest Jazz Band was an all-star jazz ensemble active from 1968 to 1978. Dick Gibson founded the group at his sixth Jazz Party, an annual event. The group performed mostly Dixieland jazz and recorded extensively. It was co-led by ...

& Bob Haggart * ''Plays Cole Porter'' (World Jazz, 1975) * ''Plays Duke Ellington'' (World Jazz, 1976) * ''Plays George Gershwin'' (World Jazz, 1977) * ''On Tour Vol 1 and 2'' (World Jazz, 1977) With others *

Ruby Braff Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong". Braff ...

, ''Variety Is the Spice of Braff'' (Arbors, 2002) *

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record "Confessin' That I Love You" ...

, ''Buck Clayton Jam Session Vol. 2'' (Chiaroscuro, 1975) * Buck Clayton, ''A Buck Clayton Jam Session Vol. IV'' (Chiaroscuro, 1977) * James L. Dean & Claudio Roditi, ''On the Run'' (Cexton, 1993) *

Tommy Gwaltney Thomas Oliver Gwaltney III (February 28, 1921, in Norfolk, Virginia, United States – February 11, 2003, in Virginia Beach, Virginia) was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist and bandleader. He played clarinet, saxophone, and vibraphone. Biogr ...

, ''Pee Wee Russell's Land of Jazz: A Memorial Tribute'' (Teaspoon, 1982) * Benny Goodman, ''Live at Carnegie Hall 40th Anniversary Concert'' (Decca, 1978) * Scott Hamilton & Warren Vache, ''Skyscrapers'' (Concord Jazz, 1980) *

Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...

, ''A Great American Evening Vol. 3'' (Concord Jazz, 1983) * Jerry Jerome, ''Something Old, Something New'' (Arbors, 1997) *

Eiji Kitamura Eiji Kitamura ja, 北村英治 (born April 8, 1929) is a Japanese jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist originally from Tokyo who made his debut at the age of 22. Kitamura devoted himself to clarinet playing while still an undergraduate at Ke ...

, ''No Count'' (Concord Jazz, 1983) *

, ''Plays Mostly the Blues'' (Audiophile, 1986) * Barbara Lea, ''You're the Cats!'' (Audiophile, 1989) * Peggy Lee, ''Love Held Lightly'' (Angel, 1993) * Butch Miles, ''Butch Miles Salutes Gene Krupa'' (Famous Door, 1982) * Butch Miles, ''Introducing the Ivory Coast Suite'' (Dreamstreet, 1986) * Eddie Miller, ''It's Miller Time'' (Famous Door, 1980) * Glenn Miller, ''In the Digital Mood'' (GRP, 1983) *

Randy Sandke Jay Randall Sandke (born May 5, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois) is a jazz trumpeter and guitarist. While a student at Indiana University in 1968, he and Michael Brecker started a jazz-rock band (Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band) that performed at the Notre ...

, ''The Music of Bob Haggart'' (Arbors, 2002) *

George Shearing Sir George Albert Shearing, (13 August 1919 14 February 2011) was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group that recorded for Discovery Records, MGM Records and Capitol Records. Shearing was the composer of over 300 ...

, '' George Shearing in Dixieland'' (Concord Jazz, 1989) *

Maxine Sullivan Maxine Sullivan (May 13, 1911 – April 7, 1987), born Marietta Williams in Homestead, Pennsylvania, United States, was an American jazz vocalist and performer. As a vocalist, Sullivan was active for half a century, from the mid-1930s to just b ...

, ''Together'' (Atlantic, 1987) *

Charlie Ventura Charlie Ventura (born Charles Venturo; December 2, 1916 – January 17, 1992) was an American tenor saxophonist and bandleader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Career During the 1940s, Ventura played saxophone for the bands o ...

, ''Chazz '77'' (Famous Door, 1977) *

Bob Wilber Robert Sage Wilber (March 15, 1928 – August 4, 2019) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and band leader. Although his scope covers a wide range of jazz, Wilber was a dedicated advocate of classic styles, working throughout his caree ...

, ''Bufadora Blow-up'' (Arbors, 1997) * Glenn Zottola, ''Secret Love'' (Famous Door, 1982) * Glenn Zottola, ''Christmas in Jazztime'' (Dreamstreet, 1986)

References

Swing trombonists Dixieland trombonists American jazz vibraphonists American vibraphonists 1926 births 2019 deaths People from Cranston, Rhode Island 21st-century trombonists World's Greatest Jazz Band members Statesmen of Jazz members Sackville Records artists Arbors Records artists Hep Records artists Jazz vibraphonists American jazz trombonists {{US-jazz-trombonist-stub