Ogden After Hours Jazz Series concludes with a performance by Yusa, a high-energy Cuban musician who seamlessly combines traditional Cuban forms with modern sensibilities. Yusa draws the listener in with her uncommon and very personal style – a blend of trova, son, pop, r&b, Brazilian rhythms and jazz. This evening, legendary modern jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski will join Yusa for a rare opportunity to see these two guitar masters play together.

Before the performance, join us in the galleries for a celebration of In the Beloved, a new body of work by Alexis McGrigg, examining themes of Blackness, space, spirituality, identity and collective consciousness through painting, drawing, and interdisciplinary media. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to meet the artist and delve into her work, exploring the multiplicity of Blackness, figurative abstraction and conceptual narratives.

5 – 6 p.m.:  In the Beloved Exhibition Celebration 
6 – 8 p.m.:  Ogden After Hours

In addition to the live jazz, enjoy:

• A food pop-up
• A cash bar
• A kids’ art activity table

$15 adult / $7 child

Ogden After Hours are free for Museum Members. Not a member? Learn more about membership perks by visiting here.

About Yusa

Yusa is a Cuban multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, arranger and composer whose music bridges traditional Cuban forms and contemporary influences. Drawing from trova, son, pop, jazz, r&b and Brazilian rhythms, she has developed a distinctive sound rooted in both Cuban tradition and global musical exchange.

Raised in Alamar, Cuba, Yusa became the first graduate of Havana’s Amadeo Roldán Music Conservatory to specialize in the Cuban tres guitar, helping expand the instrument’s role beyond traditional Cuban son. She gained international recognition with her self-titled debut album, Yusa (2002), and as a founding member of the influential Cuban music collective Interactivo.

In recent years, Yusa has developed strong ties to New Orleans, performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, leading workshops at the New Orleans Jazz Market and collaborating with musicians including Deacon John and Herlin Riley. Now based in New Orleans, she performs regularly throughout the city while maintaining an active international touring schedule.

Known for her dynamic performances and deeply personal style, Yusa continues to bring together diverse musical traditions while creating work that is both rooted in Cuban culture and open to influences from around the world.

About Steve Masakowski

Steve Masakowski is a New Orleans jazz guitarist, composer and educator whose career spans more than four decades. A fixture of the city’s jazz scene since the early 1980s, he is known for his work with the award-winning ensemble Astral Project and collaborations with artists including Ellis Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman, Nicholas Payton and Dianne Reeves.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Masakowski has performed with many of the city’s leading musicians while building an acclaimed career as a recording artist, composer and bandleader. His recordings include two releases on the Blue Note Records label, and his work has earned recognition from DownBeat magazine as well as numerous local and national honors.

In addition to his performing career, Masakowski has dedicated decades to music education. He served as a Professor at the University of New Orleans, where he held the title of Coca-Cola Endowed Chair, and is the author of “Jazz Ear Training: Learning to Hear Your Way Through Music.” Through his work as a performer, composer and educator, Masakowski has helped shape generations of New Orleans musicians while continuing to expand the possibilities of contemporary jazz.

About Ogden After Hours

Ogden After Hours (OAH) is a special event that features a diverse lineup of programs reflecting and celebrating the diversity of Southern art and culture. Bringing the whole family? Each OAH offers a unique art activity table for kids to enjoy!

/// Image credit: Allan Amato