George Masso

{{Short description|American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer (1926–2019)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = George Masso

| image = George Masso & Rickey Woodard.jpg

| image_size = 250

| landscape = yes

| caption = George Masso (left) and Ricky Woodard

| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|11|17}}

| birth_place = Cranston, Rhode Island, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|10|22|1926|11|17}}

| genre = Jazz

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Trombone, vibraphone

| label = Sackville, Arbors, Nagel-Heyer

| associated_acts = Jimmy Dorsey

}}

George Masso (November 17, 1926 – October 22, 2019){{Cite news|url=https://syncopatedtimes.com/trombonist-george-masso-has-died-at-age-92/|title=Trombonist George Masso has died at age 92|last=Bebco|first=John|newspaper=Syncopatedtimes.com|access-date=2019-10-24}} was an American jazz trombonist, bandleader, vibraphonist, and composer specializing in swing and Dixieland. Masso is notable for his work from 1948 to 1950 as a member of the Jimmy Dorsey band.{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p9129|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: George Masso|last=Yanow|first=Scott|website=AllMusic|access-date=May 12, 2010}}

Masso was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, United States.{{cite book|title=The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz|editor=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-580-8|page=278/9}} 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 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.

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