Scott's Bass Lessons' Jeff Berlin Interview

[ELG60]

 

[Michedelic]

Well, he came off a little more humble than what I expected. Quite a path his life has taken. I saw him way back when, when he was in Bill Bruford’s band.
That interview apparently has a few years on it; he mentioned he was 66, but he actually now is 72.

 

[roccobass]

Excellent interview. Thanks . Just sent it to a friend whose a big JB fan.

 

[Paul New]

I’ve been willing to listen to him for a long time, but when he told me that Jack Bruce was a virtuoso, the first on electric bass, but that James Jamerson was merely a stylist and not a virtuoso, I lost interest.

 

[bassbrad]

I’ve been willing to listen to him for a long time, but when he told me that Jack Bruce was a virtuoso, the first on electric bass, but that James Jamerson was merely a stylist and not a virtuoso, I lost interest.

Jeff has always been a person with unabashed strong opinions on a lot of things often contrary to those commonly held by others, very much a New Yorker in that way. Given his undeniable ability, talent and devotion to music I take what he says with a gain of salt and at the very least consider his POV. After all he has played with some of the best musicians and made a lot of amazing music that stands the test of time.

This is something we should all be more open to, don't you think?

 

[Paul New]

Jeff has always been a person with unabashed strong opinions on a lot of things often contrary to those commonly held by others, very much a New Yorker in that way. Given his undeniable ability, talent and devotion to music I take what he says with a gain of salt and at the very least consider his POV. After all he has played with some of the best musicians and made a lot of amazing music that stands the test of time.

This is something we should all be more open to, don't you think?

As I said, I have been listening to and admiring him for a long time. I’ve bought albums, and a book of exercises from him. This was kind of a last straw deal for me. The tune he named as evidence of Jack Bruce’s virtuosity was a live version of Sweet Wine. I won’t share the conclusion I reached over that, but you could probably compare that and any Jamerson transcription and determine that he must be listening with his eyes. Add that to the metronome thing, which I’m sure is insincere, and it’s enough for me.