From rock drummer to vibraphonist: a musical switch not many artists make. Californian Sasha Berliner took this challenging path after being introduced to the elegant percussion instrument during a jazz project at school. In 2016, she moved from San Francisco to New York to study music. There, vibraphone icon Stefon Harris taught her to develop her own unique style. It’s a harmonious style, full of avant-garde elements, in which intuition, inspiration and improvisation are key elements. Composer and bandleader Berliner has released two albums, Azalea (2019) and Onyx (2022), and has already shared the stage with such jazz greats as Christian McBride, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Nicholas Payton. According to the authoritative site All About Jazz, “Berliner is in the firmament of the here and now in modern jazz, and appears likely to occupy that upper stratosphere for some time to come”. So, it’s the perfect time to enjoy this high-flyer’s festival debut.
