Cal Massey

Cal Massey (* January 11, 1928 (or 1927) in Philadelphia, † October 25, 1972 in New York City ) was an American jazz trumpeter, keyboardist, and composer.

Massey studied trumpet with Freddie Webster, and then belonged to the big bands of Jay McShann, Jimmy Heath and Billie Holiday. Thereafter, he concentrated mainly on composing. Inter alia he wrote pieces for John Coltrane ( Bakai ), Freddie Hubbard ( Assunta, Father and Son ), Jackie McLean ( Message from Trane ), Lee Morgan, Philly Joe Jones (Fiesta ) and Archie Shepp ( Cry of My People ).

In the late 1950s Massey led a band with Jimmy Garrison, McCoy Tyner and Tootie Heath, with the he performed his own compositions. In 1961 he released the album Blues to Coltrane ( with Patti Bown, Hugh Brodie, Jimmy Garrison, Wilbert GT Hogan and Julius Watkins ). From 1969 until his death he worked with Archie Shepp, and with Romulus Franceschini.

Cal Massey son is born tenor and soprano saxophonist 1957 Zane Massey.