Berlin-based marimba and vibraphone player and composer Taiko Saito presents the second album of the Berlin Mallet Group, Between Dusk and Dawn. Formed in 2020, the ensemble is the world’s only fully jazz-improvised mallet group, consisting of Taiko Saito (marimba), David Friedman (vibraphone), Julius Apriadi (marimba), Raphael Meinhart (marimba), and Hauke Renken (vibraphone/marimba). The album features compositions by Taiko, David, and Julius, with several arrangements by Taiko specifically crafted for the mallet ensemble. Through intricate textures, delicate rhythms, and spontaneous improvisation, the album explores the full expressive potential of marimba and vibraphone, creating a unique and immersive sound world.

​

Taiko Saito, born in Japan and now based in Berlin, has developed an international reputation for her innovative approach to percussion and composition. She has received numerous awards, including the Deutscher Jazzpreis 2024 (Drums/Percussion), Jazzpreis Berlin 2023, and multiple Deutscher Jazzpreis awards with large ensembles, as well as top prizes in international vibraphone competitions. Over her career, she has collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Shing02, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Satoko Fujii, and leads projects such as KOKO Trio and hikaeme Trio. Critics have highlighted her unique musical voice, noting her ability to improvise from an “empty mind” while exploring the full sonic possibilities of her instruments (The Absolute Sound), and praising her “crystalline approach to the vibraphone and rich, precise rhythmic work” (Citizen Jazz). Her music has been described as both virtuosic and deeply poetic, combining technical mastery with evocative, dreamlike soundscapes (Winnipeg Free Press, All About Jazz).

​

Following the group’s 2020 debut on David Friedman’s Malletmuse Records, Between Dusk and Dawn represents a further step in their collective musical journey. The album balances virtuosic technique with improvisational freedom, highlighting the ensemble’s collaborative spirit. Each track presents a landscape of layered mallet textures, subtle interplay, and unexpected harmonies, offering listeners both intellectual stimulation and emotional resonance. This release exemplifies the group’s dedication to creating music that is simultaneously structured and exploratory, rooted in jazz tradition while pushing the boundaries of mallet ensemble performance.

​

Between Dusk and Dawn is not only a showcase of individual mastery but also a celebration of dialogue, interaction, and shared musical expression. With this album, the Berlin Mallet Group invites audiences into a world of nuanced sound, deep listening, and the joyful unpredictability of spontaneous music-making.

​

Album release: October 2026 on XJAZZ! Music