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 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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