Jazzfest Berlin 2026: Wendy Eisenberg

followed by Jam-Session

Wendy Eisenberg – Weiblich gelesene Person mit braunen, offenen Haaren und grauem Blazer vor einer Strandlandschaft bei Sonnenuntergang.

Wendy Eisenberg

(US)

European premiere

New York singer, guitarist, composer and improviser Wendy Eisenberg has built a career despite refusing to follow the limiting rules of the music business. And music, not any particular genre, is what Eisenberg cares about. From the beginning, whether working solo or alongside musicians like Ches Smith, David Grubbs, and Caroline Davis, and as a member of the Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet, they moved nonchalantly between free improvisation, prog-rock aggression, fingerstyle picking, post-bop, indie rock and classic singer-songwriter tropes. Sometimes a particular project embraced just one facet of their diapason, while others mixed and matched numerous qualities, but Eisenberg has always made their choices according to what fits the moment.

Earlier this year, Wendy Eisenberg released an eponymous album that focused on songwriting, setting thoughtful, probing lyrics within elegant, harmonically advanced, melodically tricky forms. It’s pop music on the surface, but beneath the veneer is something far more complex and riveting. Joined by drummer Ryan Sawyer – who’s played Jazzfest Berlin as a member of ensembles led by Nate Wooley – violinist and pedal steel whiz Mari Rubio (aka more eaze), and, for this performance, bassist Nick Dunston, Eisenberg presents this music in Europe for the first time. The album transmits a beguiling sunniness, with melody-drenched tunes full of surprising twists and turns. Some songs embrace classic honky-tonk forms, while others reflect the highly literate sounds of Laurel Canyon pop. Eisenberg’s diminutive voice traces each zigzagging line with unerring tonal precision, while their jazz foundation nourishes every move.

Line-up

Wendy Eisenberg – guitar, voice

Mari Rubio – violin

Nick Dunston – electric bass

Ryan Sawyer – drums

23:45

Jam-Session #1

with musicians from the Jazzfest Berlin programme

Feet among effect pedals on a stage in colorful light.

Like last year, the jam sessions at Quasimodo are intended to revive an old tradition of the Jazzfest Berlin. Musicians from the festival programme will be invited to improvise together in entirely new constellations in a relaxed atmosphere until late at night.

Runtime: Thu, 29/10/2026 to Sun, 01/11/2026

Next date: Wendy Eisenberg

• Date Friday, 30/October/2026 22:30
• Venue Quasimodo
• Address Kantstraße 12A, 10623 Berlin-Charlottenburg
• Price from €23.78

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