Sasha Berliner at SFJAZZ: A Homecoming That Charts the Future of the Vibraphone

Sasha Berliner at SFJAZZ

Show Details
UpSwing Series: Sasha Berliner & Michael Mayo
Venue: SFJAZZ, Miner Auditorium
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets & Info: https://www.sfjazz.org

The arrival of a hometown artist often carries the weight of both nostalgia and evolution, especially when that artist is reshaping the very definition of their instrument on a global stage. For San Francisco native Sasha Berliner, returning to the Miner Auditorium this week for SFJAZZ’s UpSwing Series is more than a standard performance; it is a showcase of a sophisticated, multidimensional musical identity forged in the Bay Area and refined in the pressure cooker of New York City. Berliner, a vibraphonist, composer, and producer, has moved far beyond the traditional boundaries of jazz, integrating the raw energy of her rock roots with a deep, academic understanding of harmony. (Click play to listen to the interview.)

Bay Area Roots and the Spirit of Experimentation

“I have this jazz foundation, but I grew up with rock music... alternative music, hip-hop, and all of these things,” Berliner explains when discussing her formative years. Her upbringing in the Bay Area was steeped in a diverse musical landscape, including the punk scene, where her father played bass. “There's so much great music that comes out of the Bay Area that isn't jazz-related, like good funk and fusion supergroups, and hip-hop. Rock bands, too. I grew up going to all kinds of shows here, and I think all that stuff has an influence.”

Recontextualizing the Vibraphone through Harmony

This eclectic background laid the groundwork for a career that prioritizes personal expression over rigid adherence to historical categories. After moving to New York to study with the modern master Stefon Harris, Berliner began recontextualizing the vibraphone, moving away from what she describes as "antiquated" associations with the instrument. “I think that jazz is not supposed to sound like one specific thing, especially when it comes to associations with the vibraphone,” she notes. “I think those associations tend to be more antiquated... my music doesn't really sound like that, so it recontextualizes what the vibraphone means.”

A significant part of this recontextualization is her use of harmony as an emotional tool, a technique she honed under Harris's guidance. This is particularly evident on her recent album, Fantôme, which explores "ghosts" or phantoms of genre. “Stefon has a whole system focused on harmony and how it relates to emotions,” she says. “It's a big part of my compositions, helping them speak to my audience without me relying on lyrics, and I think that's part of what makes an outstanding composer.”

The Shift Toward an Electric Future

Berliner’s sound is trending toward an even more "electric" aesthetic, a shift she traces to the track "Jade" on her album Onyx. While her previous records used synths as an "additional surprise texture," her upcoming 2026 project will be a full immersion in an electric format. “There’s gonna be almost no upright bass. There’s gonna be no acoustic piano. It’s all synth, and yeah, the sound as a whole is more electric,” Berliner reveals. “I just wanted to do something different... now it's like I can bring my group to non-jazz festivals, and it would work.”

This versatility is a hallmark of Berliner’s career, having performed as both a leader and a highly sought-after sideman for giants such as Christian McBride. She views these roles as mutually reinforcing. “Learning from or playing with other musicians inevitably informs what you want to do in terms of your own sound,” she explains. “It’s absolutely made me a better musician at playing other people's music... part of the challenge of being a musician. It’s also part of the fun.”

The "UpSwing" Performance: A Collaborative Alchemy

For her upcoming SFJAZZ show, Berliner will lead a quintet featuring a powerhouse lineup of West Coast talent, including Myles Martin on drums, Julio Xavier Chetto on bass, Javier Santiago on piano and keys, and Tristan Cappel on saxophone and flute. The performance will be a double bill with vocalist Michael Mayo, another forward-thinking artist who uses loop-heavy textures. “Adding a fifth member adds another dimension to the show,” Berliner says of her ensemble. “There will be harmony and counterpoint, and that tends to be the way I compose. I like the interaction between the band and whoever's playing the melody... It’s even more exciting to see in person the kind of magic that happens in the moment.”

Looking ahead to 2026, Berliner’s schedule is already packed with international tours and academic responsibilities at UC Irvine. She will also return to her roots as a performer with the SFJAZZ Collective, subbing for Warren Wolf in April. “I will be touring quite a bit with my band, which is exciting... and I'll still be teaching at UC Irvine, too,” she concludes, signaling a year of continued growth and boundary-pushing creativity. 

Show Details
UpSwing Series: Sasha Berliner & Michael Mayo
Venue: SFJAZZ, Miner Auditorium
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
Showtime: 7:30 p.m.
Tickets & Info: https://www.sfjazz.org