Sasha Masakowski & Musical Playground

Biography

Sasha Masakowski, born in 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana, grew up immersed in music as the daughter of renowned jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski and classical pianist Ulrike Antonie Sprenger. Exposed to jazz from an early age through her father's associations, including with Ellis Marsalis Jr., she began singing young and pursued formal training at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), earning a certificate in Musical Theatre, followed by studies at the University of New Orleans Jazz Studies department—led by her father—and a full scholarship at the Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands focusing on jazz.[5][1][2][3] Her early career featured performances in musical theatre and avant-garde groups like Free Jazz, Brah!, establishing her as a daring improviser blending jazz sub-genres.[3]

Masakowski's style is playful, charismatic, and spontaneous, drawing from jazz, electronic music, rock, and influences like Bobby McFerrin, Rachelle Ferrell, and Flora Purim, often in fully improvised settings.[2][5][4] She leads bands such as Musical Playground (contemporary jazz and world music), Art Market (modern jazz), Tra$h Magnolia (electronic art-rock), and performs with Nova Nola (Brazilian jazz with family), Cliff Hines Quintet, and Sidewalk Strutters (traditional jazz).[1][2][4] Her discography includes debut EP Wishes (2011, produced by James Westfall), Art Market (2018, Ropeadope), and collaborations like Quarantined with Nick (2020) with Nicholas Payton; she has performed globally at venues like Blue Note NYC, Jazz at Lincoln Center Shanghai, and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.[2][5][1]

Splitting time between New Orleans and Brooklyn, NY, Masakowski has earned international acclaim as a vocalist, composer, and producer, including a 2018 Artist-in-Residence in Denmark, producing Rasmee's Thong Lor Cowboy (2021, #1 hit in Thailand), and nominations like Offbeat Magazine's Best Female Vocalist (2019). Her work with Musical Playground and family bands positions the Masakowskis as a rising musical dynasty in New Orleans.[2][1]

Fun Facts

• At age 24 (around 2010), she released her debut EP Wishes with Musical Playground, marking a mature exploration of jazz redefinition after studies abroad.[1]
• During the 2020 pandemic, she co-wrote and produced Quarantined with Nick with Nicholas Payton and ran weekly live-streamed duo concerts from Blue Note NYC.[2]
• She lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2021 to produce Rasmee's Thong Lor Cowboy, co-writing the #1 pop chart hit title track and earning an Album of the Year nomination.[2]
• Nominated 'Best Female Vocalist' by Offbeat Magazine in 2019 and served as JazzDanmark Artist-in-Residence in Denmark in 2018, recording with Pagsberg Big Band.[2]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Steve Masakowski - father and jazz guitar luminary who led University of New Orleans Jazz Studies department (Masakowski Family Band, Nova Nola) [childhood-present]
• Ellis Marsalis Jr. - early jazz exposure through father's association (N/A) [early childhood]
• James Westfall - pianist who produced debut album (Wishes (2011)) [2011]

Key Collaborators

• Nicholas Payton - frequent collaborator on experimental electronic and jazz projects (Quarantined with Nick (2020), New World Order trio (2022), weekly duo livestreams) [2020-present]
• Martin Masakowski - brother (bass player) in family and Art Market bands (Masakowski Family Band (N.O. Escape 2016, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 2020), Art Market, Nova Nola) [2010s-present]
• Cliff Hines - contemporary jazz group and trio performances (Cliff Hines Quintet, New World Order (2022 Monterey Jazz Festival)) [2010s-present]
• Aurora Nealand - progressive genre-defying jazz collaborations (various performances) [2010s]
• Jason Lindner - improvisational jazz collaborations (various international performances) [2010s-present]
• Musical Playground band members - her band focused on improvisation and creativity (Wishes EP) [early 2010s]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia