George Masso

George Masso
George Masso (left) and Ricky Woodard
Background information
Born	(1926-11-17)November 17, 1926 Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Died	October 22, 2019(2019-10-22) (aged 92)
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Trombone, vibraphone
Labels	Sackville, Arbors, Nagel-Heyer

George Masso (November 17, 1926 – October 22, 2019)^[1] was an American jazz trombonist, bandleader, vibraphonist, and composer specializing in swing and Dixieland. Masso is notable for his work from 1948–1950 as a member of the Jimmy Dorsey band.^[2]

Masso was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, United States.^[3] Masso began learning to play the trumpet, but expanded his diversity by becoming competent on other instruments.^[3] He was further inspired by hearing Lou McGarity playing trombone on Benny Goodman's recording of "Yours". Masso secured a two year spell in the late 1940s in Jimmy Dorsey's band, before finding the life of a professional jazz musician financially difficult, and Masso quit performing. He became a music teacher.^[3]

He returned to music in 1973 and performed with Bobby Hackett and Goodman.^[3] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he recorded with Barbara Lea, Bob Haggart, and Yank Lawson.^[1]

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 (Hep, 1992)
• Let's Be Buddies with Dan Barrett (Arbors, 1994)
• That Old Gang of Mine (Arbors, 1997)
• Just Friends with Ken Peplowski (Nagel Heyer, 2002)

As sideman

With World's Greatest Jazz Band of Yank Lawson & 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, Variety Is the Spice of Braff (Arbors, 2002)
• Buck Clayton, 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, 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, A Great American Evening Vol. 3 (Concord Jazz, 1983)
• Jerry Jerome, Something Old, Something New (Arbors, 1997)
• Eiji Kitamura, No Count (Concord Jazz, 1983)
• Yank Lawson, 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, The Music of Bob Haggart (Arbors, 2002)
• George Shearing, George Shearing in Dixieland (Concord Jazz, 1989)
• Maxine Sullivan, Together (Atlantic, 1987)
• Charlie Ventura, Chazz '77 (Famous Door, 1977)
• Bob Wilber, Bufadora Blow-up (Arbors, 1997)
• Glenn Zottola, Secret Love (Famous Door, 1982)
• Glenn Zottola, Christmas in Jazztime (Dreamstreet, 1986)

References