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 name | Stephen Alphonse Masakowski |
| Born | September 2, 1954 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, jazz fusion, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, educator |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, keytar |
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Labels | Blue Note |
| Website | www |
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.
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.