Sasha Masakowski Sextet: Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim

Sasha Masakowski Sextet: Tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim
$15,000
New Orleans, LA

About the Artist

This 6-piece band, led by Sasha Masakowski, features some of the most virtuosic young jazz musicians in New Orleans today. Half of the band members are Brazilian or Hispanic, while the others hail from New York and New Orleans, yet all of us call New Orleans home. We came together to play two sold out concerts at Snug Harbor in March 2024 and were subsequently invited to perform at Jazz Arts Charlotte in the fall. This inspired us to organize a tour from New Orleans to Charlotte and back with
the support of South Arts.

Sasha Masakowski, daughter of luminary jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski, was born and raised in New Orleans. She was listed as one of 12 jazz artists to watch in 2019 by Paste Magazine, and has received accolades from Vanity Fair, Downbeat, and Jazz Times. Since 2018, Sasha has performed as a bandleader at Cotton Club Tokyo, Blue Note (NYC), Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, Jazz Standard (NYC), Detroit Jazz Festival, SF Jazz Center, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Bird’s Basement (Melbourne) and San Jose Jazz Festival, among others. She has released several albums under her name, as well as her electro-pop monikers Hildegard and Tra$h Magnolia, where she composes, produces, and plays many instruments to craft her intricate, original music.

In 2021 Sasha produced an album for renowned Thai singer, Rasmee, and two songs hit the top 10 charts in Thailand. She frequently returns to Southeast Asia to tour with Rasmee, produce for other Thai pop and hip-hop artists, and eat lots of food. Since 2020, Sasha has worked extensively with Nicholas Payton, recording and touring with his project “New World Order.” During the pandemic, Sasha and Nick had a weekly duo concert, live-streamed via Blue Note NYC. Last year they performed
as a duo at the Blue Note Napa festival, curated by Robert Glasper and Dave Chapelle. In June 2024, Sasha will produce an album honoring her dad, Steve Masakowski, comprising all original compositions of Steve and Sasha’s and featuring Brian Blade on drums.

Personnel: Bruno Elisabetsky (guitar) and Fernando Lima (drums) were both born in Brazil and toured with many notable Brazilian artists before moving to New Orleans. Oscar Rossignoli (piano) is from Honduras and is now one of the most in-demand jazz pianists in New Orleans. Julian Lee (sax) graduated from Julliard in 2017 and was the recipient of the Best Emerging Artist award from Jazz at Lincoln Center. Nick Benoit is one of the best electric bassists on the scene today.