Mali Obomsawin is a bassist, vocalist, songwriter and composer. She is a citizen of Odanak First Nation. Obomsawin’s bold artistry punctures the complacency of colonial time with irresistible sound. An international touring artist and celebrated accompanist, her current projects include her eponymous experimental ensemble, the rock band Deerlady, and the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band. Obomsawin's expansive artistic practice models the complexity of 21st century Indigenous art.
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Mali has been blessed to study and perform with notable musicians including Esperanza Spalding, Raven Chacon, Taylor Ho Bynum, Dave Holland, Angelica Sanchez, Kris Davis, Billy Hart, Jeff Parker, Peter Apfelbaum, Craig Harris, Bill Cole, Althea Sully-Cole, Tomas Fujiwara, Mike Formanek, and more. Obomsawin’s stunning 2022 debut Sweet Tooth received international acclaim and was named best of the year by GRAMMY.com, JazzTimes, NPR and more. Sweet Tooth’s success brought Obomsawin’s touring band to major venues and festivals across the US and Canada, and landed her a triple-feature in the soundtrack of FX’s hit series Reservation Dogs. Mali’s sophomore album “Greatest Hits” by Deerlady (with Magdalena Abrego) was released in 2024. NPR’s Lars Gotrich called a “headbang while you weep” record, and it was voted best of the year by Stereogun and NPR. In December 2024, Mali’s score on the award-winning National Geographic documentary Sugarcane (dir. by Julian Brave Noisecat and Emily Kassie) was released by Hollywood Records, and the film was nominated for the Academy Awards’ “Best Documentary Feature” in 2025.
This is a standing room-only performance. If you require acccessibility accommodaitons, please email boxoffice@nationalsawdust.org.
“A breath of fresh air…It not only works as a potent commentary on Indigenous heritage, autonomy and experiences, but as gripping, dynamic, and thunderous music in and of itself. All that without an ounce of overshowing.”JazzTimes