Steve Masakowski

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.

Steve Masakowski
Background information
Birth nameStephen Alphonse Masakowski
Born (1954-09-02) September 2, 1954
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian
Occupation(s)Musician, educator
Instrument(s)Guitar, keytar
Years active1970s–present
LabelsBlue Note
Websitewww.stevemasakowski.com

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 band Astral Project.[1]

He has been voted Best Guitarist twice and included as a member of Astral Project in the Best Contemporary Jazz Group three times by Gambit and Offbeat magazines in their annual readers' poll. He has published lessons in Guitar Player magazine and wrote the book Jazz Ear Training – Learning to Hear Your Way Through Music for Mel Bay Publications. He has also been recognized by Down Beat magazine as Guitar Talent Deserving Wider Recognition.[2]

Career

Early life

Masakowski was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on September 2, 1954.[3] The Beatles influenced his desire to play guitar.[4] When he was fourteen, he played bass guitar and co-founded the band Truth, which was based on the rock band Cream. In high school he became interested in composing, and he started taking guitar lessons to learn about harmony. His teacher introduced him to the music of jazz guitarists Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Pat Martino, and Lenny Breau.[1]

He went to the Berklee College of Music in 1974, studying music theory, arranging, and composition. After getting his degree, he returned to New Orleans with his girlfriend, jazz guitarist Emily Remler, and founded the group Fourplay (not to be confused with the later jazz group of the same name).[1] From 1976 to 1978, he studied classical composition and orchestration with Bert Braud, a teacher at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts who also taught Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick, Jr., Branford Marsalis, and Wynton Marsalis.

Returning to New Orleans

Steve Masakowski with his son Martin on double bass and his daughter Sasha on vocals

In the early 1980s, Masakowski played regularly with local New Orleans musicians such as Earl Turbinton, Jr., Alvin Tyler, and Willie Tee. With Singleton and drummer Johnny Vidacovich, he accompanied visiting musicians such as Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Art Baron, and Dave Liebman. He founded the group Mars with Larry Sieberth (keyboards), James Singleton (bass), and James Black (drums). The band played a mixture of jazz and electronic music, sometimes combined with visual art created by Jon Graubarth. Dave Liebman played on the first Mars album (1983).

In 1982, Masakowski founded the Composers Recording Studio with harpist Patrice Fisher, guitarist Jimmy Robinson, and violinist Denise Villere. He often acted as audio engineer and sometimes record producer. The studio lasted about ten years and recorded Harry Connick Jr., Ellis Marsalis Jr., Tony Dagradi, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and pianist James Drew.

For three years, Masakowski worked in a duet with pianist Ellis Marsalis, Jr.[1][5] In 1987, he joined Astral Project. From 1993–1996, he toured with singer Dianne Reeves. He leads the band Nova NOLA, whose members include his son, double bassist Martin, and his daughter, vocalist Sasha Masakowski.[1] He released two albums for Blue Note Records: What It Was (1994) and Direct AXEcess (1995). New Orleans guitarist, banjoist, and historian Danny Barker wrote the liner notes for What It Was. When Barker died in 1994, he bequeathed his acoustic guitar to Masakowski.[1]

He was hired by Marsalis to teach in the jazz program at the University of New Orleans. In 1991, he became a full-time faculty member. After the retirement of Marsalis and a short tenure by Terence Blanchard, he became Chair of Jazz Studies and director of the jazz program in 2004.

Inventions

Masakowski with his keytar above a seven-string guitar
Masakowski's switch pick

In 1978, Masakowski invented the key-tar, a guitar-like instrument with seven rows of keys instead of strings, one key at each fret. This pre-MIDI controller was hardwired to a Moog synthesizer. One advantage of such an instrument was that it allowed playing more than one note in a row of keys at the same time, the equivalent on the guitar of playing multiple simultaneous notes on one string. Masakowski's song "Stepping Stone" was composed on the keytar, which allowed for the cluster-type chord voicings.[3] For the duration of the Mars era, his rig included a Gretsch seven-string guitar with the keytar fastened to the top. He chose not to pursue a patent for the keytar, opting to concentrate on a revised prototype of the instrument that failed due to lack of funding.

In 1987, Masakowski invented the switch pick to help when switching from fingers to plectrum. "I invented something I call a switch-pick, which is a sort of thumb pick...[made] in such a way that if I slide it up my finger, the support part doesn't come in contact with my thumb, so it feels like a normal pick. And then if I want to use it as a thumb pick, I just slide it up my finger, and I can play finger style with the thumb pick using all five fingers."[3]

He told an interviewer, "The pick is more efficient and has a better sound on fast lines where I need swing drive, but certain ideas, like fast diatonic-fourth runs, are easier to play fingerstyle."[6]

Inspired by a visit to New Orleans by seven-string guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, Masakowski began to explore the seven-string guitar, first finding an early Gretsch, then designing his own models which have the expanded range of a normal guitar and bass guitar combined. His custom designs were built by luthiers Jimmy Foster and Salvador Giardina.

Personal life

In 1982, Masakowski married German pianist Ulrike Antonie Sprenger. The couple have two children, both professional musicians: vocalist Sasha Masakowski (b. 1986) and double bassist Martin (b. 1990). Since 2007, the Masakowski family has been playing in bands together, including the group Nova NOLA.

In 2017 the Masakowski Family released the album N.O. Escape, a combination of jazz, gypsy jazz, and vocal jazz. Steve Masakowski co-wrote three songs based on the novel A Confederacy of Dunces.[7]

Awards and honors

  • 10 best guitarists list, Wavelength magazine (1991)
  • Big Easy Award, Astral Project (1993, 1994, 2000)
  • Best Guitarist (1994–1998, 2002) OffBeat magazine
  • Best Contemporary Jazz Group (1994–2002), Astral Project, OffBeat magazine
  • Keeping the Music Alive Award, Danny Barker Estate (2003)
  • Global Excellence Award, Summers Multicultural Institute (2005)
  • Germaine Bazzle Award for Music Education and Performance (2014)

Discography

As leader

Date Album title Personnel Label
1983MarsDave Liebman, Kent Jordan, Patrice Fisher, David Torkanowsky, Larry Sieberth, James Black, Ricky Sebastian, Mark SandersPrescription
1991FriendsRick Margitza, Michael Pellera, Ellis Marsalis Jr., Bill Huntington, Herlin RileyNebula
1994What It WasRick Margitza, Michael Pellera, Larry Sieberth, Bill Huntington, David Torkanowsky, James Genus, Ricky Sebastian, Don Alias, Hector GallardoBlue Note
1995Direct AXEcessJames Singleton, Brian BladeBlue Note
1998Live at Snug HarborEarl Turbinton, Jason Marsalis, Bill Huntington, Johnny VidacovichMarzian
2000(For Joe)Bill Huntington, Johnny VidacovichCompass
2002Los Tres Amigos, Moon and SandJames Singleton, Hector GallardoMirliton
2009Nova NOLA, WetlandSasha Masakowski, Martin Masakowski, Ulrike Masakowski, James Westfall, Ricky Sebastian, Hector Gallardo, Scott Myers, Nick Solnickprivately published
2013Things I LikeRex Gregory, Peter Harris, Julian Garciaself-release
2017N.O. EscapeSteve Masakowski, Sasha Masakowski, Martin Masakowski, Paul Thibodeauxself-release
2020Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasSteve Masakowski, Sasha Masakowski, Martin Masakowski, Jamison Ross, Shea Pierre, Jason Marsalisself-release

With Astral Project

Date Album title Label
1988Dreams of Love with Tony DagradiRounder
1994Acoustic FusionDorn
1995Astral Project New Orleans LAAstral Project
1997ElevadoCompass
1999VoodoobopCompass
2002Big ShotAstral Project
2004The Legend of Cowboy BillAstral Project
2006Astral Project Live in New OrleansAstral Project
2008Blue StreakAstral Project

As sideman

Date Artist Album title Label
1987Christopher MasonSakuraGSR
1987Damon ShortPenguin ShuffleBlue Room
1987Alvin 'Red' TylerGraciouslyRounder
1988Ramsey McLean & the SurvivorsThe New New Orleans Music: Jump JazzRounder
1989Rick MargitzaColorBlue Note
1989David TorkanowskySteppin' OutRounder
1990Mose AllisonMy BackyardBlue Note
1990I miglioriLive at Gino'sChromatose
1991Rick MargitzaHopeBlue Note
1992Phillip ManuelA Time for LoveAll for One
1992Harry SheppardPoints of ViewJustice
1992Harry SheppardThis-a-Way That-a-Way
1994Tony Dagradi TrioLive at the ColumnsTurnipseed
1995Johnny AdamsThe VerdictRounder
1995Denise MangiardiFine TuningCrow Hill
1995Betty ShirleyUnveiledSummit
1995Johnny VidacovichMystery StreetRecord Chebasco
1996Denise MangiardiA River of My OwnCrow Hill
1997Michael PelleraCloud 9Pajacis
1999Leigh HarrisHouse of SecretsDeeva
1999Phillip ManuelSwingin' in the HolidaysGlad-Man
2000Phillip ManuelLoved Happened to MeMaxjazz
2001Albert–Ankrum ProjectAlbert-Ankrum ProjectLakefront
2001Olivier BouBoo-Shah-o-RayOlga
2001Kevin Clark and the Crescent City MoonlightersBig Band MusicKC
2002Samirah EvansGive Me a MomentMisha
2003Ricky SebastianThe Spirit WithinSTR
2004Harold BattisteLagniappe: The 2nd 50 Years: The Future of our PastAFO
2004James Black(I Need) AltitudeNight Train
2004Phil deGruyJust DuetHeard Instinct
2004Dr. JohnN'Awlinz: Dis Dat or D'UddaBlue Note
2005Dorothy DoringSouthern ExposureQuarter Note
2005John EllisOne Foot in the Swampprivately printed
2006Colleen PorterFaith in New OrleansIndependent
2006Colleen PorterI Love My City New OrleansIndependent
2007?Mary Jane EwingI Love Bein' Here with Youprivately published
2008Samirah EvansMy Little BodhisattvaMisha
2008Sasha MasakowskiMusical Playgroundself-produced
2008TriFunctAHangin' self-produced
2009Kaya MartinezEmergencePolyamorous
2011Sasha Masakowski and Musical PlaygroundWishesHypersoul
2012Stephanie Jordan Big BandStephanie Jordan Sings a Tribute to the Fabulous Lena HorneVige
2013Clarence Johnson IIIWatch Him WorkLike Father Like Son
2014Charlie DennardFrom Brazil to New Orleansself-published
2015Mary Jane GuineyStay TrueMoxiemuzic
2015Irvin MayfieldNew Orleans Jazz PlayhouseBasin Street

References

  1. Yanow, Scott (2013). The Great Jazz Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat. pp. 129–130. ISBN 978-1-61713-023-6.
  2. "Down Beat 47th Annual International Critics Poll Results 1999". DownBeat. Elmhurst, Illinois. August 1999. pp. 50, 54.
  3. Lasocki, David (30 June 2014). Steve Masakowski, Big Easy Innovator: The Life and Work of the New Orleans Jazz Guitarist and Educator. Portland, Oregon: Instant Harmony. ISBN 978-0-9834048-5-9.
  4. Spielman, David G. (10 October 2012). When Not Performing. Pelican Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 90–. ISBN 978-1-4556-1756-2.
  5. Fumar, Vincent (4 August 1989). "Masakowski Takes the Guitar One Step Beyond". The Times Picayune. New Orleans. p. L6.
  6. Ellis, Andy (December 1995). "Steve Masakowski: Baritone Bop, Midnight Blues". Guitar Player. pp. 35–36.
  7. Milano, Brett (8 February 2017). "The Masakowski Family, "N.O. Escape"". OffBeat. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
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