FANTOME is Berliner’s declaration of musical freedom, a stunning jazz album that simultaneously embraces and transcends genre.
Outside In Music
Sasha Berliner – Vibraphone, Percussion, Composition; Taylor Eigsti – Piano; Harish Raghaven – Bass; Jongkuk Kim – Drums
SPECIAL GUESTS: David Adewumi – Trumpet; Rico Jones – Saxophone; Lex Korten – Piano
In a jazz world that often boxes musicians into rigid categories, vibraphonist Sasha Berliner breaks free with FANTOME, building on the success of Azalea (2019) and Onyx (2022). With this new album, she’s pushing even further, breaking free from genre limits, and taking her listeners along for the ride.
FANTOME takes its name from the French word for “phantom,” a fitting metaphor for Berliner’s mission to shake off the ghosts of strict jazz labels. As she explains, this album is “about creating moods, making new interpretations of familiar songs or phrases, and presenting instrumental configurations that have rarely been done or explored before.” And you can hear that in every track.
The San Francisco-born, New York-based vibraphonist has assembled a stellar core band: Taylor Eigsti on piano, Harish Raghaven on bass, and Jongkuk Kim on drums, with notable guest appearances by David Adewumi (trumpet), Rico Jones (saxophone), and Lex Korten (piano). Together, they bring Berliner’s wide-ranging compositions to life with a mix of precision and free-flowing improvisation.
Berliner’s take on Billy Strayhorn’s ‘Upper Manhattan Medical Group’ shows how she reimagines standards. Rather than playing it straight, she adds her own artistic touch with some creative reharmonization and rhythmic shifts. It’s a nod to a piece that was key in her jazz education, but she also pushes it into new territory.
One of the album’s standout tracks, ‘Construction,’ bursts with a kinetic energy that immediately captivates, driven by vibrant vibraphone lines, Harish Raghaven’s forceful bass, and Jongkuk Kim’s crisp drumming. Berliner’s innovative compositional approach explores multiple interpretations of a single musical theme, shifting from spacious passages to densely angular explorations. Throughout, the bass, vibes duo form a striking partnership, reinforcing the group’s tight, dynamic sound.
The heart of FANTOME beats through ‘Khan Younis,’ a deeply personal composition named after the Palestinian city. Berliner channels her raw emotional response to the humanitarian crisis into shimmering vibraphone lines along with Taylor Eigsti’s wistful piano solo, creating a delicate yet powerful musical lament that speaks volumes. The track was released as a single and is both a tribute and a protest, with all proceeds going to the UN Crisis Relief Occupied Palestinian Territory Humanitarian Fund, transforming musical expression into direct action.
Raghavan and Berliner shine on the ballad ‘The Worst Person in the World,’ its title borrowed from a Norwegian film about self-discovery in a world of endless choices and lingering uncertainty. Guest flugelhornist David Adewumi takes two fine solos.
What’s impressive about FANTOME is how effortlessly the ensemble brings Berliner’s vision to life. Each musician adds their own personality while staying true to the composer’s intent, quite a feat given the music’s depth and complexity.
FANTOME is Berliner’s declaration of musical freedom, a stunning jazz album that simultaneously embraces and transcends genre.
