A fine New Orleans guitarist whose advanced improvisations display the influence of his native city’s early jazz and R&B scenes (at least rhythmically), Steve Masakowski attended Berklee in 1974. He invented the key-tar in 1978, an early guitar synthesizer. In the 1980s he recorded for his own Prescriptions label and later made albums as a leader for Blue Note in the 1990s including What It Was and Direct Axecess. He has performed as a sideman on dates led by Rick Margitza, Mose Allison, Red Tyler, Tony Dagradi, and Johnny Adams, and also toured with Dianne Reeves.