Student Vocalist Releases CD

UNO Jazz Studies vocalist Sasha Masakowski has released her debut jazz CD entitled Musical Playground and will perform excerpts from it at the French Quarter Festival's Southern Comfort Latin/World Music Stage on Saturday, April 12, from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Old U.S. Mint.

She is also scheduled to perform with the UNO Jazz Studies All Stars at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Sunday, April 27.

Musical Playground contains an eclectic mix of jazz and Brazilian standards and features many current and former UNO Jazz Studies students, including Charles Brewer, Rex Gregory, Nathan Lambertson, Alberto Medina, Paul Thibodeaux and James Westfall.

Sasha made the CD a family affair by including her brother, Martin, on bass, and her father Steve, who played guitar on several tracks and produced and mixed the recording. Martin is currently attending the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). Steve Masakowski is a well-known jazz artist and the UNO Coca-Cola Chair in Jazz Studies. The CD was mastered by Ed Petersen, UNO Associate Professor of Music.

Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

The UNO Department of Music has launched an innovative new partnership between the UNO Jazz Studies program, trumpeter and composer Irvin Mayfield, and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) Mayfield, an early graduate of our Jazz Studies program, now joins our faculty as Jazz Artist-in-Residence.

The partnership also relocates NOJO – with its heavy-hitting musical roster – to the UNO campus, with members performing and teaching master classes. A student-based version – The UNOJO Big Band – will be comprised of Jazz Studies students and is set to get underway in Spring 2008, with mentoring help from NOJO members.

Other highlights of the partnership include:

• Introducing the New Orleans Jazz Competition, individual and ensemble instrumental challenges steeped in the culture of New Orleans music.
• Commissioning a new work of music each year.
• Expanding the present Jazz at the Sandbar and Meet the Artist concert and speaker series.
• Establishing the New Orleans Jazz Consortium, an annual three-day retreat uniting colleges, businesses, organizations, and individuals with the common goal of promoting jazz.

In addition to Mayfield, NOJO musicians include Steve Suter, Eric Lucero, Jamelle Williams, Terrence Taplin, David Pulphus, Derek Douget, Leon Brown, Aaron Fletcher, Clarence Johnson III, Ernest Turner, Brice Winston, Khari Lee, Rex Gregory, Calvin Johnson Jr., Bruce Brackman, and Allen Dejean – all UNO alumni. UNO faculty members Ed Petersen and Victor Atkins III are also regular NOJO performers.

The announcement of the partnership and the introduction of Mayfield as a new Jazz Studies faculty member was made in true New Orleans-style – complete with live music and a second line - on Friday, October 12.

“The University of New Orleans has one of the premier jazz studies programs in the world,” said UNO Chancellor Tim Ryan. “Over the years, the program has included faculty members such as eminent jazz greats Ellis Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, Harold Battiste and Steve Masakowski. To add to that tradition, we are extremely proud to name Irvin Mayfield as Jazz Artist-in-Residence at the University of New Orleans.As a young jazz giant and musical ambassador, Irvin will add yet another dimension to our outstanding faculty. UNO students are the ultimate beneficiaries, however.  Where else can a student who loves jazz have the opportunity to learn and play with a faculty member of this talent and renown?”

“UNO's Jazz Studies program is one of the best,” agreed Susan Krantz, dean of the UNO College of Liberal Arts. “With Irvin Mayfield and the NOJO joining it, jazz at UNO will be sure to reach even greater heights.  We're delighted that he's coming home to his alma mater.”

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra was founded by Mayfield in 2002 to celebrate and advance the role of jazz in American culture—as well as the role of New Orleans in the development of jazz—through performances and educational events.

“The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra is excited to work with The University of New Orleans in furthering its mission to collaborate with universities and colleges to strengthen the foundation of jazz music,” said William H. Hines, NOJO chairman of the board.

Updated May 7, 2008