Steve Masakowski

Steve Masakowski, a skilled guitarist rooted in New Orleans, channels the rhythmic pulse of the city’s foundational jazz and R&B eras through his sophisticated improvisations. He enrolled at Berklee in 1974. In 1978 he created the key-tar, one of the first guitar synthesizers. His initial session appeared in 1982 on the independent Prescriptions label he founded, after which he issued leader dates for Blue Note and contributed as a sideman to projects by Rick Margitza, Mose Allison, Red Tyler, Tony Dagradi, and Johnny Adams, among additional artists. Dianne Reeves has also taken him on tour.