"Prog Bassist" Jeff Berlin Interview
www.JeffBerlinMusicGroup.com
Interview by Roger Zee (05/28/21)
Roger Zee: Who inspired you to play bass? Do you sing or play any other instruments?
Jeff Berlin: The Beatles influenced me to put away the violin and pursue a career on electric bass. They hooked me with their music at age fourteen. Ever since, it's all about guitars, bass, and playing electric music! And the standout bassist of that time, Jack Bruce, just blew me away! Even today, I know of no one quite like him. No, I don't sing, but I do play piano and guitar well enough to luckily create interesting music on them.
Roger Zee: Talk about some of the musicians and groups you've gigged and recorded with.
JB: I sidemanned and played with some of the most diverse group of players from the 1960's up to today -- billions of great musicians! In a nutshell, I guess my time with Bill Bruford and Allan Holdsworth constituted my more visible musical sojourns. But Van Halen invited me to join the group. I jammed with Rush and might be the only musician honored with every member of Rush guesting on my records. I played with Frank Zappa, jammed with hundreds of top name drummers, guitarists, sat in with pianist Bill Evans, jammed with Jaco, as well as played guitar for a very short stint with Jack Bruce. I just finished recording a "Bass Relay" section on my Jack Bruce CD that includes Tony Levin, Billy Sheehan, Mark King, Michael League, Ron Carter,
Marcus Miller, Nathan East, and Geddy Lee. As well, I just LOVE working as a sideman!
RZ: What basses/strings/amps/stomp boxes do you currently use?
JB: I play a Cort Rithimic four-string, passive bass guitar. And in my opinion, it records and performs better than the great collectibles, the Fender Jazz Basses of the 1960's. Bartolini built a line of pickups just for this model. I adjusted the action on my bass very low. As well, I had the frets filed down. Finally, THE best bass bridge I ever used, the Babicz Bass Bridge, makes the notes sustain while adding to their ring. Everything that I play comes off the assembly line. This way when I tout the wonderful quality of the gear I use, I know that other people will benefit from it the same as I do.
I use DR Strings .040 .060 .080 .100 and absolutely adore the EBS Chorus pedal. The other day, I tried out a new stomp box by Markbass called the Mark Vintage Pre which I used on the Cream jam section of my upcoming Jack Bruce CD. My bass tripled in weight -- another great innovation by Marco de Virgiliis!
Markbass makes a "Jeff Berlin" model 15-inch bass cabinet. Although the amp bears my name, I didn't contribute to its construction. It's an amp right out of the Markbass catalog. I just asked that they remove the tweeter as I'm not fond of the tweeter tone. As well, I also use a 15 inch cabinet called the Player School for much of my recording. It lacks the power of the "Jeff Berlin" model, but it actually might produce better tone.
RZ: Talk about what and how you practice.
JB: These days, I transcribe classical music out of piano books, usually by reading it and writing down what I'm reading. I developed arthritis in my right hand which compromises my playing. So, I made lemonade out of lemons by finding a few new ways to play the bass. My "fast" days seem behind me, but by slow investigation, I've found a few new ways to play the bass that might interest people.
RZ: I hear you! An injury to my right picking hand involving alcohol, a woman, and a blizzard necessitated a complete change to my technique! I now employ the banjo thumb and claw style. It allows me to play easier, faster, and with no pain! Many thanks to Kip Sophos and Anthony Candullo for that.
JB: Please share your experience in our High School orchestra. Did we know each other? Where in Great Neck, NY did you live?
RZ: I lived in Saddle Rock Estates on Old Mill Road, right across from Temple Israel. Of course I knew you -- the musical superstar of Great Neck North Sr. High School! Don't think we ever really crossed paths except possibly through some mutual friends like Lynn Johnson and Wendy Naidich. I played baritone in our high school band, guitar on the side. I also took music composition with Mr. Thompson during my senior year. You could call me a late, probably never, bloomer, LOL!
JB: I know just where you lived! I grew up between Piccadilly and Baker Hill, on Colgate Road.
RZ: You currently spend a lot of time teaching students, creating courses, and writing books. I stopped using a metronome after hearing you talk about it on Facebook. Thinking about using one again to help me play faster and smoother.
JB: Of course if you decide to use a metronome, do so! People should take or leave my thoughts as they see fit!
My approach to teaching actually doesn't come from me. I took these ideas mostly out of how they instruct classical instrumentalists. In a nutshell, maybe since the beginning of teaching, the teachers presented written music to their students and the pupil read and practiced it while being taught how to play their instrument at the same time. So simple and proven to help musicians to play better. This approach and selfteaching seem the only two ways one might improve. So, I feel confident in endorsing these approaches.
RZ: How has the Pandemic affected you? What's on the horizon?
JB: The Pandemic gave me space to concentrate on finishing my Jack Bruce record and to write two electric bass method books to help beginner and new bassists to play better. So, while gigs disappeared, I stayed busy at home. I wrote a lot of music as well as made videos for my Youtube channel.
I also went back into therapy to work on myself. From past therapeutic work, my character changed and I couldn't be happier with the peaceful change that has come over me.
RZ: Describe your most special and/or unusual gig.
JB: My gigs were always great playing gigs and lots of fun! But, here are a couple of stories where things got weird. As we entered into one of the last remaining European countries with a border crossing, their police opened our van and truck to check out what we carried -- amps, drums, etc. Suddenly, as a joke, one band member yelled out, "I hope they don't find the heroin!" One cop's head shot straight up while another put his hand on his holster. I immediately yelled to the cops that he's just kidding and fortunately, they believed me.
Another time, while playing in South Korea, the American Ambassador came to hear our show. We felt quite honored. As he introduced his wife and himself to us, the same musician blurted out, "Do you know where we can get any good drugs?" What a knucklehead! The Ambassador laughed it off and actually joked that he would look into it!
Honestly, my gig stories don't seem remarkable enough to require mention. No amps blew up and no one got hurt! Since the beginning of my career, the music nearly always came out great! In truth, so far, everything turned out wonderfully, bumps aside!
RZ: How do you see the future of the music business?
JB: I'd love to see the Jeff Berlin Jazz Trio play the Super Bowl Half-time Show! But, I can't hold my breath that long. Seriously, the powers of the record industry will determine wherever the music industry goes. I honestly have no idea what's coming tomorrow. But, I DO believe for certain that whatever musical style comes next, guaranteed, somewhere in there it will include a G major chord! I use this example to point out to bass players that teaching and learning notes, not styles, can give you a career!
RZ: What advice do you give up-and-coming musicians?
JB: I will share the same thought, but expand on it. The music industry has no interest in bringing in new bassists to work. But, if players prove qualified by reading music or masterfully playing one or two styles, it will make it much easier to get offered a place at the table.
RZ: You criticized bass education and labeled teachers and schools that people admire as "flawed." Please explain.
JB: I've completely stopped criticizing teachers and schools. I did this for years as a symptom of my pre-therapy and post-therapy mental pathology. It became necessary for me to turn over a new leaf and it took me 68 years to do it. I grew up in a dysfunctional family where open criticism of everyone and everything served as the chief operating mechanism. I needed to change this for the sake of fairness to others and peacefulness within me. Change is rough. But if one can stick it out, the waters always calm down. Always!
RZ: Do you live with any animals?
JB: No, but my wife does!
YouTube - Five G - Bill Bruford / Allan Holdsworth / Jeff Berlin / Dave Stewart
YouTube - Joe Frazier - Bill Bruford
©2021 Roger Zee
