Sasha Berliner at The Cooler
Doors - 7:30pm
Live Podcast Recording - 8:00pm
Music - 8:40pm
Sasha Berliner is a musician, composer, producer, and band leader from San Francisco, CA. A rock drummer turned vibraphonist, Sasha was introduced to the instrument while attending Oakland School for the Arts. She moved to New York City in 2016 to attend the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, studying under acclaimed vibraphonist Stefon Harris. Harris’ influence on Sasha, in particular with regard to harmony, directly aided the development of her unique style.
For her first visit to The Cooler, we're kicking off with a live podcast recording with Irish Women in Jazz, hosted by Jeni McMahon. Hear about Sasha's artistic approach and life as a musician on the New York scene.
Following the conversation, Sasha will perform a solo set of her own compositions and arrangements, an intimate show of solo vibraphone in the quiet space of The Cooler.
Sasha’s first marquee show on the NYC scene was at NYC Winter Jazz Fest in 2018, followed soon after by Atlanta Jazz Fest and Burlington Jazz Fest. She was the first US recipient of the LetterOne “Rising Stars” Jazz Award in 2019, providing Sasha with an opportunity to tour as a band leader, while also facilitating the creation of her debut album Azalea in 2019.
Azalea was nominated for JazzTimes 2019 Readers’ Poll’s “Best New Release” and has been described as “shimmering and thoughtful” (Kassel, TIDAL), “gleefully exploring various genres and headspaces” (Tremblay, CTEBCM). The record’s politically charged, style-blending, alternative jazz sound employs digital effects, synths, audio speech samples, and strings, bringing together Sasha’s diverse musical background and influences.
The following year, Sasha was named winner of the 2020 Downbeat Critics’ Poll “Rising Star – Vibraphone” category. She was both the first woman, and at 21, the youngest individual in the poll’s history to receive the award. She has been voted one of the top ten vibraphonists in Downbeat Reader’s Polls every year since 2021. Sasha commissioned works for Modern Marimba and the SWR NewJAZZ Meeting as artist-in-residence for fall 2021, which resulted in her suite of live music entitled Tabula Rasa, released on CD in May 2023.
Sasha’s second studio LP, Onyx, features all-star musicians Marcus Gilmore, Burniss Travis II, James Francies, Thana Alexa, and Jaleel Shaw, and was tracked entirely analog to tape. The album was #1 on Jazzwise’s “Charting the Jazz Message” chart, and voted one of the best jazz albums of the year by UK Vibe, Textura, Jazz Vinyl Collector, and the 17th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll.
Sasha has headlined international venues like Newport Jazz Festival, The Blue Note, Montreal Jazz Festival, and Monterey Jazz Festival. In addition to performing with her own band, she has recorded and performed live with such renowned musicians as Tyshawn Sorey, Nicholas Payton, Christian McBride, and Cecile Mclorin Salvant. She is an endorsing artist for Marimba One and Vater Drumsticks. Sasha has been a guest lecturer at University of Champaign-Illinois, UC San Diego, Stanford Jazz Workshop, and Berklee College of Music, and is currently a Professor of Jazz and Jazz Composition at UC Irvine.
Tickets
Additional Information
The Cooler The Cooler is located upstairs at The Complex Arts Centre, 12 Mary's Abbey Dublin 7. The entrance to The Cooler is through the same door as The Depot at The Complex, on the Mary's Abbey side of the building, where the LUAS tracks run. The building has a red wall on the left hand side of a front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex', and a blue wall facing the front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex - Art Lives Here'.
The plaza in front of The Complex is used by the surrounding businesses and during the day is often full of fruits, vegetables or delivery vehicles. You can still access The Cooler at these times.
Above the small blue artists' door, you'll see a painted sign for The Cooler (in black) and the Depot (in white). The Cooler is also marked by a small sign between the main glass doors (sometimes covered by blue shutters) and a blue artist's door. The glass doors will be open for performances from door times (usually 7:30pm).
The Cooler cannot be accessed from the Arran St East side of The Complex - this is the entry for the Gallery and artist studios only. If you have any trouble locating the Cooler please give Caitriona a call on 087 783 3391.
To find the Cooler Google Maps, search for The Cooler or The Depot at The Complex (the main performance space downstairs at The Complex). If you find the address for just The Complex, it will generally will bring you to the gallery on Arran St East.
For performances, The Cooler bar is open at door time (usually 30 minutes before the start of the performance), and during intervals. To make finding a seat and getting your drink a comfortable experience, please ensure you have enough time before the music starts!
Access notes The performance space is up two flights of stairs and may be difficult to access for patrons with mobility issues. The space is fully seated.
Gender-neutral toilet facilities are available outside the door and up a few steps up from the level of The Cooler. Baby-changing facilities are available at The Gallery, downstairs at The Complex (near the Arran St entrance). Please ask any of our team for directions.
Guide dogs and service animals are welcome, please notify us if you will be attending with a guide dog.
If you have any other queries regarding accessibility or require any accommodations for seating etc, please contact us at admin @ improvisedmusic . ie and we will do our best to assist you.