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Sarah Bernstein

SARAH BERNSTEIN is a New York-based composer and violinist whose work incorporates vocals, electronics, improvisation and original text. She is known for her fiery multidisciplinary performances, and has garnered international acclaim for her distinctive recordings. She has released ten albums to date as a leader/coleader. She leads the Sarah Bernstein Quartet and VEER Quartet, and performs solo as Exolinger. Collaborations include her duo with drummer Kid Millions, synth-pop group Day So Far, and a range of projects in new jazz, chamber music, experimental pop and noise. She has placed in the DownBeat Critics Poll annually since 2015, winning “Rising Star Violinist” in 2020. Bernstein's music and poetry are also featured in online magazines and film scores. She is originally from San Francisco, CA.

Awards

DownBeat Rising Star Critics Choice as Violinist of the Year 2020


Tags

Album Review

Sarah Bernstein: Crazy Lights Shining

Read "Crazy Lights Shining" reviewed by Neri Pollastri


Nata a San Francisco ma residente e operante a New York, Sarah Bernstein è violinista, compositrice, improvvisatrice, ma anche poetessa, ed ha alle spalle numerose importanti collaborazioni, tra le quali spiccano quelle con Anthony Braxton. In questo singolare e suggestivo Crazy Lights Shining la troviamo a duettare con il percussionista Satoshi Takeishi, intenta a unire i suoi molteplici interessi. L'album, che supera di poco la mezz'ora di musica, raccoglie infatti nove brani, tutti a firma della Bernstein che, ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Let's Get Experimental

Read "Let's Get Experimental" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


Violinist, composer, singer, and poet Sarah Bernstein visits the 'cast to discuss her career in music, her various on-going groups and projects, and her recording with percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, Crazy Lights Shining. The rest of the program explores various kinds of “experimental music," from drummer Rudy Royston's unusual front-line of bass clarinet and accordion to Thrainn Hjalmarsson's.. well, we aren't sure just what Thrainn was up to, but it sure was experimental. Playlist Interview with Sarah Bernstein about ...

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Album Review

Sarah Bernstein Unearthish: Crazy Lights Shining

Read "Crazy Lights Shining" reviewed by Gareth Thompson


The concept of “free" is linked with jazz more than any other music genre. But “free" to do what, exactly? Free to think what you like, play what you want, express what you must? May as well throw in the freedom to live how you choose. Listening to violinist Sarah Bernstein's music, these questions occur as she delights in breaking conventions. Her avant-jazz Sarah Bernstein Quartet exudes calm control even as it induces awe and fear. Among her solo projects ...

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Album Review

Sarah Bernstein: Still/Free

Read "Still/Free" reviewed by Stefano Merighi


Nuovo talento in equilibrio tra jazz e poesia, musica per archi e improvvisazione, Sarah Bernstein introduce questo Still/Free con un lungo brano di squisito minimalismo ipnotico, poche note tematiche che lasciano il segno di una sensibilità particolare, interessata certo più alla musica di gruppo piuttosto che ad una vetrina per violino solista. Anzi, lo strumento sotto le dita di Sarah è rarefatto e sornione, le sue frasi legate hanno consistenza liquida, in bell'amalgama con quelle del piano di Kris Davis, ...

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"New York-based violinist, vocalist and interdisciplinary artist reframing sound, exploring the limits of sonic perception." Stephanie Jones, DownBeat Magazine

"A sound of wild abstraction drawing upon the traditions of experimental noise, free rock and avant-garde jazz. Heavy, lithe, raw and spirited." Joseph Neff, The Vinyl District

"Musical flora and fauna drawing sustenance from biting sarcasm, stinging political statements and voices from the other side." Elliott Simon, New York City Jazz Record

"Cerebral composition, ludic puzzles and feisty improvisation." Daniel Spicer, JazzWise

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Primary Instrument

Violin

Location

New York City

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Exolinger

577 Records
2020

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Broken Fall

577 Records
2019

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Crazy Lights Shining

Phase Frame Music
2018

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Sarah Bernstein...

Leo Records
2016

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Still/Free

Leo Records
2016

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Iron Dog: Interactive...

Phase Frame Music
2012

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Videos

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