Sasha Berliner

Sasha Berliner is a musician, composer, producer, and band leader from San Francisco, CA. Sasha got her major start on the NYC scene shortly after moving there to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, when she debuted at NYC Winter Jazz Fest in 2018, followed soon after by Atlanta Jazz Fest and Burlington Jazz Fest in the same year. Sasha was the also first US recipient of the LetterOne “Rising Stars” Jazz Award in 2019, where she headlined 10 reputable jazz festival throughout the U.S. And Canada. This gave Sasha her her first official foray in to touring as a band leader and facilitated the creation of her debut album, “Azalea” (2019).

Shortly after, Sasha was named the 2020 Downbeat Critics’ Poll winner of the “Rising Star - Vibraphone” category. She was both the first woman, and at 21, was the youngest individual in the poll’s history to be granted the win. This is also around the time Sasha first performed with musicians such as Nicholas Payton and Tyshawn Sorey, who later recorded that sextet on an album entitled “Unfiltered” (2019), and started subbing for vibraphonist Warren Wolf in Cecile Mclorin Salvant's chamber orchestra project, Ogresse.

Sasha’s music work remains primarily based in New York City after receiving her Bachelor’s degree from The New School. She has gone on to headline international venues like Newport Jazz Festival, The Blue Note, Portland Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival. She has also commissioned works for Modern Marimba (Sarasota, FL) and the SWR NewJAZZ Meeting (Baden Baden, Germany) as artist in residence for fall 2021, which resulted in her suite of music entitled “Tabula Rasa”, TBR May 2023 via the live concert at Enjoy Jazz Festival

In addition to performing with her own band, her recent notable performances have been with musicians such as Christian McBride, Terreon Gully, and John Escreet. She has been a guest lecturer at esteemed universities like University of Champaign-Illinois, UC San Diego, and Berklee College of Music. She is also a faculty member at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, Malletlab, and Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy.

Sasha has been awarded grants from NYFA, South Arts/Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and The Louis Armstrong Foundation to fund her ongoing artistic endeavors, including her sophomore album, “Onyx” (2022). The album, which was voted one of the Best Jazz Albums of 2022 by Bandcamp Daily, JazzWise, UK Vibe, and Textura, was released on JMI Recordings alongside Jimmy Fallon/The Roots music producer “Suga” Steve Mandel.

PRAISE FOR SASHA BERLINER

"As a versatile drummer and gifted vibraphone player, Sasha wields a technique and musical sense that portends a thrilling career. In her original music, she deserves significant praise." - Seton Hawkins, Hot House Jazz Magazine.