Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes Live

Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes Live at Mahalla Berlin

28 November 2026

On November 28, Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes arrive at Mahalla Berlin for a rare and intimate live performance, an encounter between two of Los Angeles’ most distinctive musical voices.

Gendel, widely recognized for reshaping the language of the saxophone and wind controllers, moves fluidly between abstraction and melody. His work dissolves boundaries, bridging jazz, ambient, and experimental pop, while collaborations with artists such as Ry Cooder, Laurie Anderson, Moses Sumney, and Vampire Weekend reflect a practice rooted in exploration and reinvention.

Alongside him, bassist, producer, and composer Sam Wilkes anchors the performance with a deeply intuitive sense of rhythm and form. Known for his signature seated performances on Fender Precision bass, Wilkes blends groove, improvisation, and genre fluid composition into a language uniquely his own. His collaborations span from Chaka Khan to Jacob Collier and Dominic Fike, positioning him at the center of a new generation of boundary crossing musicians.

Together, Gendel and Wilkes create a musical dialogue that feels at once precise and unrestrained, balancing intricate rhythmic interplay with moments of spacious, almost meditative stillness. Their performances unfold organically, shaped in real time through deep listening and subtle interaction.

Set within the raw, resonant architecture of Mahalla Berlin, this concert invites audiences into a sonic environment where genre dissolves and presence becomes the central instrument.

An evening of sound, space, and connection, rooted in Los Angeles, unfolding in Berlin.