Samora Pinderhughes Brings Immersive Sound to Berklee's Signature Series

Samora Pinderhughes Brings Immersive Sound to Berklee's Signature Series The artist and composer, who's worked with Herbie Hancock, Robert Glasper, Common, and Sara Bareilles, leads a Berklee student ensemble at Cafe 939 on November 19.

By

Nick Balkin

October 21, 2025

Samora Pinderhughes

For Samora Pinderhughes, music is a conversation that comes alive through the space it fills, the people who share it, and the energy that moves between them. On November 19, the acclaimed composer, pianist, and vocalist will bring that sense of connection and community to the Red Room at Cafe 939, where he'll lead a student ensemble as part of Berklee's Signature Series.

Matthew Stevens, associate professor of guitar, partnered with Pinderhughes to select the student performers and shape the repertoire. The ensemble will perform a program reflecting Pinderhughes's characteristic blend of musical detail, improvisation, and social awareness.

Pinderhughes has worked with artists ranging from Herbie Hancock and Lalah Hathaway '90 to Sara Bareilles 25H, Daveed Diggs, and Simone Leigh. He is also a frequent collaborator with Common, Robert Glasper, and Karriem Riggins. His music has been featured at Carnegie Hall, the Sundance Film Festival, and the Kennedy Center, and he has toured internationally with Branford Marsalis '81, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah BM '04 (formerly Christian Scott), Jos James, and Emily King.

A native of the Bay Area, Pinderhughes began studying piano at age seven and went on to train at the Juilliard School under Kenny Barron and Kendall Briggs. His work has since spanned multiple disciplines, including film and installation art, while maintaining a central focus on composition and performance.

A defining element of Pinderhughes's artistry is his engagement with social and political realities. The Healing Project, his ongoing multimedia initiative, integrates music, film, and oral history to explore the emotional and structural impacts of incarceration and inequality. Presented at Lincoln Center and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the project has been praised for its honesty and depth.

The Red Room at Cafe 939 is located at 939 Boylston Street in Boston. Admission is $19.50 in advance and $16.50 for students. Tickets are available online and at the Berklee box office.

Learn more about Berklee's Signature Series.

Watch the music video for Samora Pinderhughes's Better:

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