Another controversial Jeff Berlin video

[fdeck]

It does seem like “serve the song” is an electric bass thing. I don’t think I’ve even heard it from upright bassists.

I serve the song, the music, myself, my band mates, the audience, society, and the universe.

 

[60bass]

I honestly don't get all the hate on here for Jeff Berlin. He's a very accomplished player and yes he is very opinionated but IMO his credentials enable him to be. When you have played with the likes of drummer Bill Bruford’s band and later recorded with icons like Allan Holdsworth, Frank Zappa, and John McLaughlin. You have the right to be opinionated.

The only other thing I can say Is as a bassist is until you have done as much as he has or more you should at least give him the respect he deserves.

I also say the same exact thing about Gene Simmons. Another player who seems to get a lot of hate and ridicule here on TB. Do, yeah he's not the greatest but look what he's done. So tell the truth. How many of us when we started out as young teenagers playing bass didn't want to grow up and be a rockstar in a real famous band and marry a Playboy bunny? C'mon you KNOW you dreamed of that! We all have rights to our own opinions but we also must respect those who gained success with their music.

 

[fdeck]

I remember Jeff Berlin going all the way back to the earliest forums, perhaps even The Bottom Line. He was always opinionated. What I think happened was that the Internet was in its infancy, and identifying “real” people of any prominence was rare. So he attracted a lot of attention and it became popular to bait him. Same with Carol Kaye. It’s really hard to reverse this process once it takes hold.

It turns out that surviving as an Internet personality takes more than just being a good teacher or a great bassist, and successive musicians have figured this out, or they wisely stay away from forums. Likewise, maintaining diplomacy on a web forum is an art, and a rare one at that. I can’t think of more than one other forum that’s as well moderated as TalkBass. Early on, nobody knew these things.

I’d rather have someone who’s really smart but doesn’t handle the Internet very well, than the other way around.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I wish Jeff the best.

 

[Church-Bass]

Abe Laboriel - whatever you play or practice, always do it with feeling.
(I think this is what Jeff is trying to say all these years).

I'm a big fan of Abraham Laboriel - huge influence on me in the 80s and 90s.

 

[dave_p]

I like Jeff Berlin. He does latch onto things like a pit bull. His delivery isn’t always diplomatic. His message isn’t always what people want to hear. But in many ways he is right. I think where people misunderstand is that his statements and beliefs are targeted to specific aspects of music. Learning vs performing. I think if you are performing he’s not so opinionated. It’s the being taught that he is stuck on. If you are self taught carry on…. But if you are paying for a music education he believes you should be taught written music. Not told to serve the song. I am with him on written music being the most efficient way to tackle learning how to play the instrument. The act of reading written lessons and playing them hits all aspects of musicianship and lays the foundation for the things that will come as a result. Wish I realized it sooner. At its core his philosophy seems to be if you want good time, or to groove, or improvise you need to know how to play your instrument well. And the best way to learn that is through written music. And if you are paying for it it better be written music that is academically correct.

 

[dune]

His delivery isn’t always diplomatic.

I think that @fdeck is spot-on. It's just how he comes across online and that persona is not always reflective of reality.
I met him around 2000 (even got to play his bass). That encounter left me with the impression that he's just a really sweet individual. He was very cordial and unassuming. From what I've seen in my time online, it can be easy for anyone to lose a bit of their sense of humanity here to whatever degree.
Did I mention that I got to play his bass?

 

[Whousedtoplay]

he believes you should be taught written music. Not told to serve the song.

I truly don't understand your statement.
What does the "should be taught written music" requirement/opinion/desire has to do with "serve the song?"

Let's say, you can be Ciara Moser, record your own music and play as much "self-expressing" bass-lines as you want.



Or you can "re-imaging" Prince, write very nice arrangements of Prince's songs, and show it on Youtube.





But...

If you are called to play "French Exit" for Dua Lipa, you, as a bass player will serve Dua Lipa.

 

[dave_p]

I truly don't understand your statement.
What does the "should be taught written music" requirement/opinion/desire has to do with "serve the song?"

On the face of it nothing. Just based on many things I have heard Mr Berlin go on about, the recurring theme it appears to me, and I guess only me, is that if you are paying for instruction or trying to learn music it should be written music. And if you have any level of competence you don’t need to be told or taught how to serve the song. That should come from just being a good musician. My take on it.

 

[fearceol]

We all have rights to our own opinions

Totally agree.

I admit that I was amused and surprised at the title of this thread.

A "controversal" video ??? I think not. Just a musician giving his opinion.

People can agree/disagree/discuss a topic posted by him, but, as with... "60Ibass"... I don't get all the animosity towards Jeff Berlin.