JEFF BERLIN
Jeff Berlin is a legend of the electric bass. Simply put, he is considered by many to be the finest electric bass player in the world. Noted for his fluid lyrical playing, he is also a pioneer of slap bass when he brought this percussive-style bass playing in 1979 to a new audience on the tune called 5G! Jeff also pioneered two handed tapping when he performed this style on the tune Motherlode from his 1985 release of his first solo album called “Champion.”.
Jeff Berlin è figlio d’arte (suo padre era cantante d’opera lirica e sua madre era pianista). Da piccolo era considerato un prodigio al violino, e passò al basso a 14 anni. Ha studiato basso, tra l’altro, al Berklee College of Music di Boston.
A partire dagli anni ’70 Berlin ha cominciato a suonare con musicisti famosi e a pubblicare album solisti. Ha suonato per diversi anni con Bill Bruford (batterista di Yes e King Crimson e fondatore degli UK) ed è noto che rifiutò un invito a entrare nella band Van Halen. Ha suonato, dal vivo e in studio, con artisti come Pat Metheny, Van Halen, Rush, Stanley Clarke, Yes (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe), Allan Holdsworth, Kazumi Watanabe. Fra i suoi album solisti si possono citare Pump it!, Taking Notes, In Harmony’s Way e Lumpy Jazz. In un suo video didattico può vantare la collaborazione alla chitarra del giovane e già virtuoso Frank Gambale, oltre a quella del celebre batterista Vinnie Colaiuta.
JEFF BERLIN
Jeff Berlin è figlio d’arte (suo padre era cantante d’opera lirica e sua madre era pianista). Da piccolo era considerato un prodigio al violino, e passò al basso a 14 anni. Ha studiato basso, tra l’altro, al Berklee College of Music di Boston.
A partire dagli anni ’70 Berlin ha cominciato a suonare con musicisti famosi e a pubblicare album solisti. Ha suonato per diversi anni con Bill Bruford (batterista di Yes e King Crimson e fondatore degli UK) ed è noto che rifiutò un invito a entrare nella band Van Halen. Ha suonato, dal vivo e in studio, con artisti come Pat Metheny, Van Halen, Rush, Stanley Clarke, Yes (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe), Allan Holdsworth, Kazumi Watanabe. Fra i suoi album solisti si possono citare Pump it!, Taking Notes, In Harmony’s Way e Lumpy Jazz. In un suo video didattico può vantare la collaborazione alla chitarra del giovane e già virtuoso Frank Gambale, oltre a quella del celebre batterista Vinnie Colaiuta.
Lo stile di Berlin è fortemente legato alla fusion, ed è paragonabile a quello di Jaco Pastorius, sebbene Berlin suoni un basso con tasti (anziché fretless) e abbia preso più volte le distanze dagli imitatori di Pastorius.
La Dean Guitars ha realizzato un basso elettrico con la firma di Berlin[1]. Inoltre la Mark Bass, azienda produttrice di amplificatori dedicati al basso gli ha dedicato un amplificatore: il Mark Bass CMD 151 P Combo Jeff Berlin.
Jeff Berlin è anche noto come critico musicale e si interessa di didattica in campo musicale. Fu membro fondatore del Bass Institute of Technology di Los Angeles e, più tardi, della Players School of Music di Clearwater in Florida. Scrive regolarmante articoli ed editoriali per molte riviste del settore, inclusa la Bass Player Magazine.
ENGLISH
Jeff Berlin is a legend of the electric bass. Simply put, he is considered by many to be the finest electric bass player in the world. Noted for his fluid lyrical playing, he is also a pioneer of slap bass when he brought this percussive-style bass playing in 1979 to a new audience on the tune called 5G! Jeff also pioneered two handed tapping when he performed this style on the tune Motherlode from his 1985 release of his first solo album called “Champion.”.
Jeff is known as a major innovator through his incisive playing through recordings and performances for the last thirty years. Jaco Pastorius regarded Jeff as a better soloist than he was. Geddy Lee referred to Jeff as the “greatest bass player on the planet”. Marcus Miller told people that he wanted to be the “Black Jeff Berlin”.
The founder of The Players School of Music in Clearwater, Florida, Jeff has also been at the front of music education for almost 30 years. His column in Guitar Player and Bass Player magazines were the most read columns due to their controversial content emphasizing music education over more popular learning concepts aimed at technique-type instruction.
His numerous recording credits include six highly acclaimed solo records, Champion, Pump It!, Taking Notes, In Harmony’s Way, Lumpy Jazz and Aneurythms. Jeff tours with his band that has features ex. Pat Metheny drummers Danny Gottlieb and Paul Wertico, steel drummer Othello Molineaux, trumpet player Randy Brecker and pianist/bassist Richard Drexler. He also toured with BX3, a bass conglomeration that includes the great bass players Stuart Hamm and Billy Sheehan. In 2009 Jeff toured with guitarist John Abercrombie and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Jeff also played in Asia in an explosive trio with drummer Dennis Chambers, and guitarist Scott Henderson.
Many have said that they have never heard anyone play with Jeff’s melodic fluidity. He is making new fans all the time, while his playing continues to influence a new generation of bass players. His teaching continues to inspire and advance players wishing to know about the language of their art. Jeff Berlin is a Master.
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