Onyx – Sasha Berliner

Onyx is the second studio album by vibraphonist and composer Sasha Berliner, released by JMI Recordings. Recorded in an all-analog tape format, the work proposes an avant-garde approach to contemporary jazz, distancing itself from traditional acoustic structures through the use of effects and sonic manipulation.

The core quartet is composed of Marcus Gilmore on drums, Burniss Travis II on double bass and electric bass, and James Francies on piano and Fender Rhodes. The lineup expands with Jaleel Shaw (alto saxophone), Julius Rodriguez (analog synthesizers), and Thana Alexa (vocals), allowing for hybrid textures that integrate elements of the avant-garde, hip-hop, and progressive jazz-rock.

The repertoire balances original compositions of heavy harmonic density with deconstructions of standards like "My Funny Valentine." Through superimposed time signatures and dynamic contrasts, the album solidifies Berliner’s singular language within the current jazz scene.