Jeff Berlin Speaks

[Bob_Ross]

Here is one of several tracks from Studio Jams Episode #66, taped "On The Road" at SubCat Studios in Syracuse, New York. It features pianist Michael Wolff, drummer Mike Clark and bassist Jeff Berlin. It was taped on July 27, 2014 at SubCat Studios in Syracuse, NY (USA).

Oh dear. Now I have to go listen to Sonny Rollins' version of "Softly..." with Wilbur Ware on bass, just so I can be reminded of what swing is supposed to feel like.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Brad,
English is my fifth language.
As always, thank you for your very kind response to my comment.

P.S. Where could I find any videos/recordings with you? I've just seen only pictures with a lot of beautiful bass guitars .

There are videos around, I don't keep track of them. I'm a full-time bassist who mainly plays locally.

A few Jeff's lessons.

(Sorry if those EXCELLENT lessons could offend ANYBODY.)

This thread started off with relaying Jeff's new attitude and has somehow turned into listing a bunch of Jeff's videos on a site he basically banned himself from. I guess I'm not getting the point of all of this? You're putting these videos here because...?

 

[Whousedtoplay]

You're putting these videos here because...?

Thank you very much for your question.
As I've mentioned in my previous postings, my MAIN influence OVERALL, while growing up, was Stanley Clarke.
(As you can see, I did not say Jeff Berlin.)

Now (many years later) I'm not a full-time amateur bass player (as I used to be many years ago),
and my income DOES NOT DEPEND on my bass playing,
and with all those creeping in NATURAL "aging" issues,
I REALLY need to find some SERIOUS MOTIVATION to get up before 5:00 a.m., grab my bass guitar and practice SOMETHING, record SOMETHING, LEARN SOMETHING, HAVE FUN (!) etc...
And CURRENTLY, Jeff Berlin with his lessons and music (somehow) has become that SERIOUS MOTIVATOR for me.
(The same thing is about Hadrien Feraud, but this thread is about Jeff Berlin.)

To sum up my posting.
1. Jeff Berlin - as MY "serious motivator" to practice, to learn, to record the bass guitar and HAVE FUN.
2. My recommendation to other bass players in similar to my situation - listen to Jeff Berlin!

P.S. I would also recommend checking Andrew Ford's website (a very interesting one!) or Hadrien Feraud's new Masterclass video, but...
This thread is about Jeff Berlin.

One more P.S.
I don't know how to treat or suppress "negative emotions" towards Jeff Berlin.

 

[Brad Johnson]

That was an answer to my question? Sweet.


So it really has nothing to do with this thread and is basically a fan spamming. A not so clever way to get Jeff back on TB without getting him back on TB.

It's been done before.


This was pretty funny: "I'm not a full-time amateur bass player (as I used to be many years ago)".

A full-time amateur actually means something. Probably not what you think.

 

[Whousedtoplay]

A full-time amateur actually means something.

Dear Brad, yes you are absolutely correct.

So it really has nothing to do with this thread and is basically a fan spamming.

Dear Brad, I have thoroughly expressed my opinion about Jeff Berlin, about this thread, etc...
I'm just repeating "samo samo".

In addition, I fully understand your position about Jeff Berlin and/or any other Musician.

As always, thank you for your kind response.

 

[rtav]

As one who has been on the receiving end of his legendary brusqueness, I am delighted (and humbled) to read his note.

Difficult thing to do and props to him.

VERY COOL.

But hey, enough of my yakkin'; whaddaya say? Let's boogie!

 

[Brad Johnson]

Dear Brad, yes you are absolutely correct.

Yes, a full-time amateur would essentially be unemployed. Playing full-time for no pay.

Dear Brad, I have thoroughly expressed my opinion about Jeff Berlin, about this thread, etc...
I'm just repeating "samo samo".

In addition, I fully understand your position about Jeff Berlin and/or any other Musician.

As always, thank you for your kind response.

And you've yet to explain what spamming clips of Jeff has to do with this specific subject, Jeff's change of heart. Writing samo samo when you're ignoring the question over and over is definitely samo samo.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Dear Brad, I was paid to play the bass for many years, but I always thought of myself as an "amateur".
(It's my personal thing.)

In English amauteur means not professional. If you were paid to play for many years...

Once again, this thread is about Jeff Berlin; therefore, let's talk only about Jeff Berlin.

No, this thread is not about Jeff Berlin. It's about Jeff Berlin's change of heart. There's a difference.

You took a thread about a banned former TB pro's announcement on another site and decided to spam videos of his here, where last we heard he did not want to be. It's no longer weird for his fans to pop up on Talkbass to pitch for him repeatedly since his last memorable scorched Earth tirade. And folks like you can't understand why he isn't here, screw the actual facts. That's love... blind as hell.

Your postings, your questions about ME in the Jeff Berlin thread, could be also interpreted as spamming or even worse, but...

That is nonsensical. You apparently don't understand what spamming is. And this circular conversation doesn't hide what you're doing nor does taking the tact of trying to blame me for the same actions you're taking.

As always, thank you for your kind response.
I've heard your opinion about Jeff Berlin. You've heard mine.
Anything that you disagree with - is spamming/fan spamming.
If you think that anything you say, and everybody should except as the final truth".

Yep, samo samo nonsense. What am I disagreeing with? I pointed out what you're doing. You've explained that you're apparently unaware of what the actual topic is (hint: it's not just about whose name was mentioned).

Here is my answer - NEVER!!!!
That's my final answer to you.
That's my final nice response to you, dear Brad.

And good luck to you, Anonymous User. Do you have videos of yourself? An example of your paid amateur work. A real name? Etc.

Seriously, who are you? I'm Brad Johnson, an easily found and verifiable human.

Good luck on your local scene.
Always my best wishes to hard working bass players.

My local scene is going well, knock on wood. Better than most of my compatriots who go on the road. This week I've completed four gigs ad I'll start next week off with three on Sunday. And I'm not doing low paying club work. Along with my other endeavours I can't complain but thanks for your interest. I'm not working hard, I'm working smart.


Anyway... this is simply such a hoot I literally laughed out loud. Your answer of "NEVER!!!!" is directed at what question exactly? Never answer a direct question? AGREED!!!!!

Frankly this type of conversation was the same reason the HF thread about his time with JM was such a cluster. An entertaining cluster but still... the characters were definitely a strange twist.


So... GOOD DAY, SIR!!! I SAID GOOD DAY!!!!



(Seemed appropriate).

 

[avvie]

So right now I'm listening to Jeff on the most recent No Treble podcast discussing his behavior. He really sounds exactly like a recovering alcoholic (like me) that finally had his reality snap, shatter and fall out from under him (like me) and has finally figured out that it is not necessary to be right about everything all the time (like me, sometimes).

 

[Antman3820]

So right now I'm listening to Jeff on the most recent No Treble podcast discussing his behavior. He really sounds exactly like a recovering alcoholic (like me) that finally had his reality snap, shatter and fall out from under him (like me) and has finally figured out that it is not necessary to be right about everything all the time (like me, sometimes).

I was listening to that this week. Jeff is one of my favorites and as Billy Sheehan would say "Jeff is a grand master" of the bass guitar.
Loved reading and checking out his lessons on Facebook and YouTube. Always felt he suffered from the "It's not what you say, but how you say it"
Good to hear him open up and be honest about what he has been dealing with. Hoping that he continues his path to getting better. Hoping he can rebuild some of those bridges he may have burned.

 

[A.K.]

Is it possible that people were a little hard on Jeff? After all, it's not like he's a serial killer or a child molester or a member of the Republican National Committee. I mean--did he destroy peoples' lives or just act like a dick sometimes?

 

[GwenOnBass]

Is it possible that people were a little hard on Jeff? After all, it's not like he's a serial killer or a child molester or a member of the Republican National Committee. I mean--did he destroy peoples' lives or just act like a dick sometimes?

<shrug> Jeff has always been a gentleman in my presence.

 

[A.K.]

<shrug> Jeff has always been a gentleman in my presence.

1) We get it--you've hung out with Jeff Berlin. Perhaps you've given him a sponge bath or even waxed his back. That's amazing and everybody's jealous and stuff. I'm sure it gives you tons of street cred when it really counts. Please mention it a thousand more times.

2) What did he do to totally crush people's souls?

 

[blue4]

Is it possible that people were a little hard on Jeff? After all, it's not like he's a serial killer or a child molester or a member of the Republican National Committee. I mean--did he destroy peoples' lives or just act like a dick sometimes?

He acted like a dick. Generally, that's enough. It's not as if he invented a new alternative power source or a cure for disease. He's just playing an instrument better than most, so why tolerate dickish behavior? As far as talkbass goes, he burned the bridges here. Doesn't really matter if he's a sweet guy somewhere else later on. Kinda like getting drunk and insulting the manager of a restaurant. You're getting tossed out, doesn't matter if you're a nice guy in McDonald's later.

 

[JimmyM]

Is it possible that people were a little hard on Jeff? After all, it's not like he's a serial killer or a child molester or a member of the Republican National Committee. I mean--did he destroy peoples' lives or just act like a dick sometimes?

Acted like a dick sometimes...no lives ruined that I know of. But he traditionally has been very insulting to people who don't go strictly by his methods, especially if they try to inject spirituality into the mix. But while at one time I was not a fan of his actions, especially when he'd take little potshots at Jaco for no reason, I am now and have been for a few years once I got to know what he's all about. He really IS a nice guy, but he's very intense and more than a little scary. However, he's often right about the state of music education these days. I find it a little too spiritual in nature, too, especially with all the meaningless buzzwords and feel-good sentiments like "There are no wrong notes." Trust me...there are PLENTY of wrong notes to be had!

 

[A.K.]

He acted like a dick. Generally, that's enough. It's not as if he invented a new alternative power source or a cure for disease. He's just playing an instrument better than most, so why tolerate dickish behavior? As far as talkbass goes, he burned the bridges here. Doesn't really matter if he's a sweet guy somewhere else later on. Kinda like getting drunk and insulting the manager of a restaurant. You're getting tossed out, doesn't matter if you're a nice guy in McDonald's later.

OK, so basically he could be a dick sometimes. Did he insult people's mothers? Say their kids were ugly? Insist that people who couldn't sightread "Heart of the Sunrise" should kill themselves?

I'm not making excuses for whatever he did, I'm just saying it must have been genuinely EXTREME for him to have to have to issue a mea culpa for his ENTIRE EXISTENCE before, say, 2015. Maybe his wife left him and he's having a crisis or something. It seems a bit overblown to me, but again--maybe he destroyed people lives and drove kind and gentle people to suicide or something. Otherwise maybe people should develop a thicker skin or not have such an investment in whether Jeff Berlin (who is more or less completely unknown outside the bass community) is nice or not.

 

[avvie]

especially with all the meaningless buzzwords and feel-good sentiments like "There are no wrong notes." Trust me...there are PLENTY of wrong notes to be had!

Mmmmyeeeah, I had a problem with that too. I certainly cannot stand next to Mr. Wooten while wearing a bass, but...yeah, wrong notes happen.

 

[GwenOnBass]

1) We get it--you've hung out with Jeff Berlin. Perhaps you've given him a sponge bath or even waxed his back. That's amazing and everybody's jealous and stuff. I'm sure it gives you tons of street cred when it really counts. Please mention it a thousand more times.

Is it inconceivable that Jeff has friends? Or that friendship is no claim to his talents and skills? Why on earth would Jeff know me? He's got the street cred on that.

 

[avvie]

I'm just saying it must have been genuinely EXTREME for him to have to have to issue a mea culpa for his ENTIRE EXISTENCE before, say, 2015

Basically what he's doing is a Fourth and Fifth Step. He figured out that he has a major character flaw that insulted a LOT of people throughout his life. Within the bass world he basically just insisted that he is right and everyone else is wrong, period, end of story. That extends to the spiritual lives of the individuals within earshot as well. That's pretty major, regardless of those who allow it to deflect away.

 

[blue4]

OK, so basically he could be a dick sometimes. Did he insult people's mothers? Say their kids were ugly? Insist that people who couldn't sightread "Heart of the Sunrise" should kill themselves?

I'm not making excuses for whatever he did, I'm just saying it must have been genuinely EXTREME for him to have to have to issue a mea culpa for his ENTIRE EXISTENCE before, say, 2015. Maybe his wife left him and he's having a crisis or something. It seems a bit overblown to me, but again--maybe he destroyed people lives and drove kind and gentle people to suicide or something. Otherwise maybe people should develop a thicker skin or not have such an investment in whether Jeff Berlin (who is more or less completely unknown outside the bass community) is nice or not.

All I know is what I saw on here and the comments he made about VW. He was a dick. If your neighbor was a dick each and every time you come across him, would you wonder why, or tell yourself to develop thicker skin? Probably not. You'd call him a dick and move on from him, which is basically what a lot of people did. I think it's actually a lack of people's investment in Jeff Berlin that caused him to try to make nice.