The George Masso Sextet - No Frills, Just Music (2016)

An excellent trombonist who recorded for Arbors, George Masso had a long if somewhat underrated career. Other than some early gigs (including a 1948 association with Jimmy Dorsey), Masso made his living from teaching up until 1973. However, he always played trombone on the side and, soon after becoming a full-time musician, he toured with the Benny Goodman Sextet (1973). Masso worked with Bobby Hackett, Bobby Rosengarden, and the World's Greatest Jazz Band (the latter starting in 1975) and recorded with Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, and Woody Herman. He led sessions for Famous Door, World Jazz, and Dreamstreet between 1978 and 1983, frequently sharing the front line with tenor saxophonist Al Klink and trumpeter Glenn Zottola. Masso recorded for Sackville and Arbors and became a reliable fixture at jazz parties and classic jazz festivals. He died on October 22, 2019 at age 92. ~ Scott Yanow