Martin Masakowski

Bassist, Luthier, multi-instrumentalist, photographer

429 Exposition Blvd.

New Orleans, LA, 70118

+1-504-284-8007

gotjazz@cox.net

EDUCATION

2004-2008- the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) high school.

2007-2008- Thelonious Monk Institute high school program.

2008-2009- University of New Orleans- Bachelor of Music

2009-2011- Codarts, Rotterdam Conservatory- Bachelor of Music

2017-2019- University of New Orleans- Masters of Jazz Performance

NOTABLE TOURING EXPERIENCE & RESIDENCES

2008- Miami tour with Antonio Heart via the Thelonious Monk Institute

2008- Marciac Jazz Festival, France, via Thelonious Monk Institute and NOCCA

2009- Kobe, Japan cultural exchange tour via NOCCA

2011-2012- 10 month tour through Eastern Europe and South America with the Balcony Players band

2012- 2 month tour through Eastern Europe with the Balcony Players

2014- 3 month tour through Spain with the Balcony Players

2014- 10 day residency at the Ascona Jazz Festival (together with Masakowski family band)

2015- Month long west coast United States tour with electronic band, Hildegard

2015- Month long tour through Spain with the Balcony Players

2016- Cultural Ambassador, musical exchange to Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel, representing New Orleans and the New Orleans Center for Creative Art.

2016- 4 month international tour with Cosmic String Duo, Sasha Masakowski’s Art Market, Balcony Players.

2016- Onebeat 2016 (US State Department International Residency) - United States

2017- 3 month European tour with the Masakowski Family, followed by Sasha Masakowski’s Art Market, and the Cosmic String Duo

2018- Les rencontres Orient-Occident, Multicultural residency in Switzerland led by Mahmoud Chouki

2018- 3 Month international tour with Cosmic String Duo, Mahmoud Chouki, Sasha Masakowski, Blato Zlato, Masakowski Family.

2019- Onebeat Balkans (US State Department International Residency) - Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Croatia, Macedonia

2019- Featured Artist in LSU’s Bass Fest 2019, Baton Rouge

2019- Onebeat Colombia (US State Department International Residency) - Colombia

2019- 1 month multidisciplinary  residency at ‘FIX in ART’ in Thessanoliki, Greece with the Cassandra Project

PROJECTS

Cosmic String Duo- Bass and Violin acoustic duo stretching the boundries of acoustic music in a chamber folk setting.

Balcony Players- An energetic Gypsy and Klezmer based in the Netherlands. “Making people happy and dance around the world!”

Sasha Masakowski’s Art Market- A fusion of traditional New Orleans music, eletronic music and original compositions.

The Masakowski Family- A family trio featuring Steve Masakowski on guitar, Sasha Masakowski on vocals, and Martin Masakowski on bass. Playing original music and relevant music from New Orleans’ greatist composers.

INVENTIONS

Mobile Acoustic Z bass [M.A.Z]- a one-of-a-kind semi acoustic upright bass, collapsible for transport with the ability to be carried on board most airlines. 1st prize winner of 2017 “Innovate UNO” competition.

FELLOWSHIPS AND STATE RUN PROGRAMS

2009- New Orleans cultural ambassador to Kobe, Japan, with the New Orleans Center for Creative Art.

2016- Cultural Ambassador/musical exchange to sister city Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel, representing New Orleans and the New Orleans Center for Creative Art.

2016- OneBeat 2016 State Fellowship program.

2019- OneBeat Balkans State Fellowship Program

2019- OneBeat Colombia State Fellowship Program

NOTABLE MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS

Brian Blade, Jason Marsalis, Jason Linder, Liubomir Geshkovshi, Petar Ralchev, Mahmoud Chouki, Ismail Altunbas, Sullivan  fortner

FEATURED RECORDINGS

2018 Cosmic String Duo- Valley View

2018 Sasha Masakowski- Art Market

2016 Masakowski Family- N.O. Escape

2015 Sasha Masakowski- Old Green River

2012 Balcony Players- Balcony Adventures Around the World