We’re excited to welcome Sasha Berliner to Motivo for the May edition of the Creative Music Series.
A visionary vibraphonist, composer, and bandleader, Sasha brings a bold and expansive musical voice that moves fluidly between jazz, electronic textures, and contemporary composition. Her work is at once deeply rooted and forward-looking — playful, exploratory, and emotionally resonant.
“Berliner plays, composes and leads her band with maturity and artistic presence rarely attained.”
the Ensemble
TBA
Tickets:
Doors: 7:45pm
Show: 8:30 - 10:00pm
One set. Open seating.
General admission: $30.00 pre-sale | $35.00 at the door
Student Price: $15.00
Limited parking on site on first come, first serve basis. Additional parking spaces available on Casitas Ave and Minneapolis St. Lots of street parking, safe and walkable neighborhood!
About Sasha Berliner
Sasha Berliner is a San Francisco–born vibraphonist, composer, producer, and bandleader whose work spans jazz, experimental music, and contemporary composition. Originally a rock drummer, she discovered the vibraphone at Oakland School for the Arts before continuing her studies at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York, where she studied with Stefon Harris.
Since emerging on the international scene, Sasha has performed at major festivals including Newport Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, and North Sea Jazz Festival, and has collaborated with artists such as Tyshawn Sorey, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, and Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Her debut album Azalea (2019) was nominated for JazzTimes Readers’ Poll “Best New Release,” followed by Onyx (2022) and Fantome (2025), both of which further establish her as a leading voice in modern jazz. In 2020, she became the youngest and first female recipient of the DownBeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star – Vibraphone,” and has continued to rank among the top vibraphonists in the world.
In addition to her work as a performer and recording artist, Sasha is an educator and currently serves as Professor of Jazz and Jazz Composition at UC Irvine. Her music continues to push the boundaries of the genre, blending acoustic and electronic elements into a singular, evolving sound.
“She has already asserted herself as a creative, genre-defying composer and excellent bandleader with a sixth sense of yet-unheard possibilities.”