Rod Mason

Rod Mason stands out among traditional jazz trumpeters for his Armstrong-inspired approach that nevertheless developed into a distinctly personal voice. Although he has produced numerous strong albums over the years, most remain difficult to obtain inside the United States. Throughout his professional life he has concentrated on dixieland-rooted material and is the son of drummer Frank “Pop” Mason, who performed with the Savannah Orchestra in England from 1928 to 1931. Among the leading figures of British traditional jazz with whom he has collaborated are Cy Laurie in 1959, Monty Sunshine from 1962 to 1966, Acker Bilk from 1970 to 1971, the Dutch Swing College Band in the mid-1980s, and Chris Barber, the last of whom guested on one of Mason’s own releases; even so, Mason’s greatest recognition has come from his work as a bandleader. Phil Mason, who has headed a sextet called his Hot Five together with a new Savannah Orchestra, has appeared regularly across Holland and Germany as well as England and has issued leader sessions, beginning in 1974, on the WAM, Black Lion, Jeton and Timeless labels.