Rising star Mali Obomsawin is a proud citizen of the Odanak First Nation whose boundary-defying work brings Indigenous tradition into dynamic conversation with modern jazz and contemporary improvisation. A gifted bassist, vocalist, composer, and songwriter, Obomsawin leads her eponymous ensemble in music that draws on Native rhythms and chants while exploring expressive harmonies and free-jazz influences. Her performances are both deeply rooted and boldly experimental, weaving stories of culture, identity, and resilience into a vibrant, immersive sound world. Making her Spoleto Festival debut, Obomsawin invites audiences into a present and transformative musical journey where tradition and innovation meet.

Mali Obomsawin, bass and vocals

About Mali Obomsawin
Mali Obomsawin is a bassist, vocalist, songwriter, and composer. She is a citizen of Odanak First Nation. Her current touring projects include her eponymous experimental ensemble, the rock band Deerlady, and her new collaboration with Raven Chacon, LazyHorse. She also performs regularly in the Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band.  

Since her solo debut Sweet Tooth in 2022, which Spoleto Festival USA Jazz Curator Larry Blumenfeld called “the most auspicious album I heard all year,” Mali Obomsawin’s prismatic rise has kept a brisk pace. An artist of prolific output, her music was featured on the FX series Reservation Dogs in 2023, her original score for the documentary Sugarcane brought her to the Oscars in 2024, and her myriad projects have taken her to premier stages across the U.S. and Canada. Her two primary projects, Deerlady and Mali Obomsawin with her eponymous ensemble, are both poised to release new material in 2026. 

Attendance at all events is subject to the Festival security policy.

Don’t Miss: Jazz Talk: “Indigenous Truths” with Mali Obomsawin on May 24th.

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