Born in New Orleans in 1954, Steve Masakowski studied at Berklee College of Music, then returned home to build a life in the city's jazz world. He studied classical composition and orchestration with Bert Braud, played regularly with Earl Turbinton Jr., Alvin Tyler, and Willie Tee, and backed visiting players including Randy Brecker, Art Baron, and Dave Liebman alongside James Singleton and Johnny Vidacovich.
In 1987 he joined Astral Project, the modern jazz group co-founded by Tony Dagradi, Johnny Vidacovich, and James Singleton. He recorded two albums for Blue Note Records — What It Was (1994) and Direct AXEcess (1995) — and toured for two years with Grammy-nominated vocalist Dianne Reeves. Along the way he invented the guitar-based keytar and the switch pick, and designed custom seven-string guitars built by luthiers Jimmy Foster and Salvador Giardina.
Masakowski was hired by Ellis Marsalis to teach at the University of New Orleans, became a full-time faculty member in 1991, and later served as Chair of Jazz Studies and director of the jazz program, retiring in 2022. He plays with his children, vocalist Sasha Masakowski and bassist Martin Masakowski — including in the family band Nova NOLA and on their 2026 album Two Worlds — and in 1982 founded the Composers Recording Studio, which recorded Harry Connick Jr., Ellis Marsalis Jr., Tony Dagradi, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
