On October 9th, Friday Night Music Club will welcome Sasha & Steve Masakowski. Sasha Masakowski was born into a family of musicians in New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up studying classical music under the wing of her mother, acclaimed concert pianist Ulrike, spent her teenage years studying music, theater and dance at the prestigious NOCCA, and developed a strong affinity for jazz music in college, where she immersed herself in UNO’s jazz studies program under the tutelage of her father, world renowned jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski.
She has since created a unique musical identity combining the facets of her upbringing, and developed a career which has allowed her to perform for audiences across the world.
Steve Masakowski has long been regarded as one of the top Jazz artists from New Orleans. Born and raised in New Orleans, Steve Masakowski 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 wel as being 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.
Steve is currently on the faculty at the University of New Orleans where he holds the position of Coca-Cola Endowed Chair of Jazz Studies.
Purchase tickets at: www.centerofperformingarts.net
