Sasha Berliner

Sasha Berliner is a Lecturer in Jazz Studies at the Department of Music, University of California, Irvine. A San Francisco-born, Los Angeles-based vibraphonist and composer, she is celebrated as a leading figure in contemporary jazz innovation, with her work featured in JazzTimes and Downbeat. Her recent album Fantôme (2025) explores genre-fluid jazz through collaborations with artists like Taylor Eigsti and Harish Raghavan.

• Downbeat Critics Poll #1 Rising Star Vibraphonist
• Jazz Journalists' Association runner-up for Vibraphonist of the Year

Her research and artistic practice focus on:

• Transformative jazz composition and arranging
• Bridging jazz with electronic and world music influences
• Emotive vibraphone performance techniques
• Genre-fluid improvisation frameworks
• Collaborative ensemble dynamics
• Music as socio-political expression

Fantôme (2025) builds upon her critically acclaimed works Onyx (2022) and Azalea (2019), showcasing her evolution towards more liberated, boundary-defying jazz forms. The album features guest appearances from David Adewumi and Rico Jones, with proceeds from the track 'Khan Younis' supporting Palestinian humanitarian relief efforts through the UN Crisis Relief Fund.