Steve masakowski biography

Steve Masakowski

American guitarist, educator, and inventor

Steve Masakowski

Birth nameStephen Alphonse Masakowski
Born (1954-09-02) September 2, 1954 (age 70)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian
Occupation(s)Musician, educator
Instrument(s)Guitar, 7-string guitar, keytar
Years active1970s–present
LabelsBlue Note
Websitewww.steve-masakowski.com

Musical artist

Steve Masakowski (born September 2, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist, educator, and inventor. He invented the guitar-based keytar and the switch pick, and has designed three custom-built seven-string guitars. He developed an approach to playing the guitar by using his pick design, allowing him to switch from fingerpicking to flatpicking.

He has released solo albums and has worked with Johnny Adams, Mose Allison, Dave Liebman, Ellis Marsalis, Jr., Carl Fontana, Rick Margitza, Bobby McFerrin, Nicholas Payton, Dianne Reeves, Sam Rivers, Woody Shaw, Alvin Tyler, and Bennie Wallace. Since 1987, he has been a member of the

Steve Masakowski

Steve Masakowski, Ph.D., Professor Coca-Cola Endowed Chair of Jazz Studies

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Steve was born and raised in New Orleans and has played guitar with most of the city’s greatest musicians including Alvin “Red” Tyler, Ellis Marsalis, Danny Barker, Earl Turbinton, and James Black. He has also performed with Grammy Award-winning artists Bobby McFerrin, Nicholas Payton, Allen Toussaint, Dianne Reeves and others at major festivals around the world.

As a recording artist, he has released numerous CDs including two on the prestigious Blue Note Records label. He has been an active member of, and composer for the award winning New Orleans jazz group, Astral Project. He has twice been voted “Best Guitarist,” and won “Best Contemporary Jazz Group” three times by Gambit and Offbeat magazines in their annual reader’s polls.

He has published lessons in Guitar Player magazine and authored a book on jazz ear training for Mel Bay. He also appears with his children, bassist Martin and vocalist Sasha (B.A., UNO 2009), in performa

Steve Masakowski

About this concert

Larry Sieberth with Brian Richburg & Steve MasakowskiLarry Sieberth is a celebrated jazz pianist and composer from New Orleans, renowned for his inventive style and mastery of multiple genres, including jazz, classical, and world music. Sieberth is known for his unparalleled improvisational skills and his ability to craft intricate harmonic landscapes. With a career spanning decades, he has collaborated with some of the most esteemed names in music, consistently pushing the boundaries of jazz while honoring its rich traditions. His work is a testament to his dedication to the art of musical exploration and his deep connection to the cultural legacy of New Orleans.For this upcoming performance, Sieberth will join forces with percussionist Brian Richburg Jr. and guitarist Steve Masakowski, promising an extraordinary evening of jazz innovation and artistry. Richburg Jr., a dynamic young talent making waves in the jazz world, brings his distinctive energy and rhythmic precision to his drumming. Masakowski, a celebrated guitarist and long-time mem

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