Currently based in He Sapa (Black Hills) of South Dakota, trumpeter, composer, educator, and activist Alex Massa’s career has spanned geographies, genres, and generalities. Having resided in New Orleans, Iceland, Winnipeg, Corpus Christi, and Chicago over the past 16 years, they have crafted an approach and sound that is distinct and authentic. A self-proclaimed generalist, Massa has performed and collaborated with thousands of artists around the world. Massa is the executive director for Improvise Arts, a non-profit organization that focuses on creative performance opportunities for all ages and high-school youth mentorship, Artistic Director for the New Music Ensemble of the Black Hills, and the South Dakota Jazz Orchestra.

A shortlist of artists Massa has worked with are: Samantha Fish, Vintage Trouble, The South Dakota Jazz Orchestra, The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, Trumpet Mafia, The Headhunters, The Nth Power, The Revivalists, Two Friends, Nikki Glaspie, Brian Haas, Mike Dillon, Jon Roniger and the Good For Nothin’ Band, Helen Gillet, Ben Lamar Gay, Cristal Sabbagh’s Freedom From and Freedom To, Dave Miller, Derrick Gardner, Galactic, Quincy Davis’ Promise, Jamison Ross.

As a bandleader, Massa has released ten records. His current projects include; WATER MUSIC, The Fat Trio, The New Music Ensemble of the Black Hills, Plays Well With Others, STRANGE WINDS, Otis:GO, Skeleton Crew, and spinning vinyl records as DJ SnackMassa5000.

As a writer, Alex composes original music for short films, documentaries, features, and commercial placement. His credits include Big Night (dir. Ann Lupo), Parsnip (dir. John Hansen), In Reality (dir. Ann Lupo), Discretion (w/Cary Elwes), and has had placements on Discovery Channel, The Food Network, CBS, Netflix, and other channels.

Alex is a certified yoga teacher, an avid outdoorsperson and fly-fisher, and an advocate for water rights around the globe.