New Orleans guitarist Steve Masakowski performed with pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. often over the years.<\/p>\n
For a time, they had a duo gig at Tyler\u2019s Beer Garden on Magazine Street<\/a>, and Marsalis was the featured pianist on Masakowski\u2019s 1991 album, \u201cFriends,\u201d<\/a> with drummer Herlin Riley, saxophonist Rick Margitza, bassist Bill Huntington and pianist Mike Pellera.<\/p>\n When Marsalis retired as chair of the University of New Orleans\u2019 Jazz Studies program, which he founded, Masakowski stepped into that role, a position he held until his own retirement in 2022.<\/p>\n So when Marsalis died in April 2020 \u2014 during the early days of the Covid pandemic \u2014 the Snug Harbor jazz club turned to Masakowski as well as his daughter, vocalist Sasha Masakowski, and son, bassist Martin Masakowski, for a tribute performance<\/a> to the influential pianist. Among the songs in the beautiful set was \u201cSweet Dreams,\u201d<\/a> a piece Steve wrote for his \u201cFriends\u201d album, with new lyrics written by Sasha.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to play that at Tyler\u2019s with Ellis and just kind of put it on the shelf for many years now until after Ellis passed and I brought it out,\u201d Steve says, \u201cand Sasha did such a great job writing lyrics to it, put it into a whole new dimension.\u201d<\/p>\n A new recording of \u201cSweet Dreams\u201d now appears on the new Masakowski Family album, \u201cTwo Worlds,\u201d<\/a> which is out Friday, April 3. The meaningful, full-length jazz record features Steve, Sasha and Martin along with exceptional musicians and friends drummer Brian Blade, saxophonist Rex Gregory and pianist Oscar Rossignoli. Ulrike Maria Masakowski, Steve\u2019s wife and Sasha and Martin\u2019s mother, created the artwork for the album.<\/p>\n