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Sasha Berliner: A Homecoming That Charts the Future of the Vibraphone
by Steven Roby
In this episode, Steve Roby sits down with acclaimed vibraphonist, composer, and producer Sasha Berliner. A San Francisco native, Sasha discusses her genre-defying approach to jazz, her journey from rock drummer to jazz innovator, and the influence of the Bay Area's vibrant music scene on her sound. She shares insights into her latest album, Fantôme, her upcoming electric band project, and her experiences collaborating with top artists.Playlist Sasha Berliner “Jade" from Onyx (J.M.I. Recordings) Sasha Berliner “Zenith" from ...
Continue ReadingJakob Dreyer: Roots and Things
by Dan McClenaghan
Bassist Jakob Dreyer searched for a new sound for his third album as a leader. He has, for his previous two releases, expressed his art via the standard quartet--sax, bass, drums and piano. For Roots and things, the piano is replaced by Sasha Berliner's vibraphone, joining the leader's other new-to-the-fold sidemen, saxophonist Tivon Pennicott and drummer Kenneth Salters.A vibraphone in the group is an inspired choice. The instrument is seeing a 2024/2025 resurgence. Blue Note Records, in particular, ...
Continue ReadingKaisa Mäensivu: Moving Parts
by Vincenzo Roggero
Di origine finlandese, da tempo residente a New York, la contrabbassista e compositrice Kaisa Maensivu fonda l'ensemble denominato Kaisa's Machine nel 2015 e, dopo l'album di esordio nel lontano 2017, approda alla prestigiosa Greenleaf di Dave Douglas nel 2023 con Taking Shape ed ora con il recentissimo Moving Parts. Nel corso degli anni e talvolta durante lo stesso tour Kaisa's Machine ha variato formazione e musicisti ma, come ben dimostra il quintetto dell'album in questione, senza mai perdere ...
Continue ReadingJaleel Shaw: Painter Of The Invisible
by Carl Medsker
For twenty years, Jaleel Shaw has steadily built a robust career that includes a lengthy apprenticeship with Roy Haynes, steady work as an in-demand sideman and mentoring the next generation at the Manhattan School of Music. Painter Of The Invisible caps two years of significant events: Dave Holland enlisted him in his 2024 quartet along with Kris Davis and Nasheet Waits, after which he fronted a band at the 2024 Newport Jazz Festival for the first time. Then, in March ...
Continue ReadingSasha Berliner: Khan Younis
by Carl Medsker
Fantôme (Outside In Music, 2025) is vibraphonist Sasha Berliner's third release as a leader, and it is excellent from start to finish, due to its diversity of moods, energy, instrumentation, arrangements and well-written compositions. This is an ensemble effort, with everyone contributing to bringing Berliner's ideas to life. The core band consists of Taylor Eigsti (piano), Harish Raghavan (bass) and Jongkuk Kim (drums). “Khan Younis" is one of two slower, lusher tracks on an otherwise kinetic, assertive album. ...
Continue ReadingSasha Berliner, Kaisa's Machine, Callum Allardice, Zacc Harris & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Kaisa's Machine: Moving Parts
by Troy Dostert
On the third release with her trusted ensemble, Kaisa's Machine, rising star Kaisa Mäensivu displays a mature compositional voice, creating seven beguiling tracks that make excellent use of her superb colleagues. The Finnish bassist has for some years split her time between Helsinki and New York City, and the album's concept is loosely centered on the challenges and opportunities of bilocation--but the music itself is remarkably cohesive and taut, with a group dynamic that indeed reflects machine-like precision, even if ...
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