Crap, I wanted to post what a tool he is and then did a quick YouTube search. Found this:
...and decided to go practice instead.
...and decided to go practice instead.
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What's the problem with jeff berlin?
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saw him do this live and probably watched it 10 times
I've been practicing for about the last hour and break time is over.
No offense to the above posts, but that is the most soulless wanking I've ever heard. At times he's almost 2 beats ahead of the drummer. If he played like Victor (ie grooved his ass off and made my head bob) and happened to be as charming as a turd in a microwave I might excuse it. Good example of how all the chops in the world won't mask a lack of feel and emotion in your playing.
However, its all IMO because I don't get any pleasure out of making the bass function like a full range melody/chordal instrument. I like big fat notes that propel a groove and make drummers talk about me behind my back. YMMV.
However, its all IMO because I don't get any pleasure out of making the bass function like a full range melody/chordal instrument. I like big fat notes that propel a groove and make drummers talk about me behind my back. YMMV.
No offense taken. Everybody likes something different. Personally I don't think it's the best video ever, but I see a guy that has an absolute mastery of the instrument.
And yeah, I like chordal work on bass but groove is the role of bass.
He's certainly a monster for what he does and how he approaches the instrument, setting aside the attitude.
I live in Clearwater, FL and have run into Jeff a few times over the past couple of years, and he's always a major chode to me. I also run into his students a lot (his Players school is in the same building as Sam Ash) and I always notice that they're typically weak players who talk a much bigger game then they walk. I think based on these two facets of exemplifying what goes on at the Player's School is Jeff pretty much brow beating beginners-to-intermediate players because they think it's a big deal to study with someone who is a celebrity on the instrument, and he feeds into that by interjecting his opinions and holding back valuable musical information.
Believe me, here in Clearwater and the greater Tampa Bay, most professional players steer clear of him and the players he brings to the area. I don't claim that any of us can play a bebop solo better than Jeff, but bebop solos are a very small partition of what we do as professional bass players.
Believe me, here in Clearwater and the greater Tampa Bay, most professional players steer clear of him and the players he brings to the area. I don't claim that any of us can play a bebop solo better than Jeff, but bebop solos are a very small partition of what we do as professional bass players.
I don't have a problem with Jeff. Some of his music doesn't do much for me, some of it is amazing. I think he's an amazing player, I just prefer to judge him by his music rather than his mouth!
Yep, as promised per his upper signature, "Here's thumb in your eye"
Sez you Frilly Fingers.
Bwahahahaha!
Ahem.
Joe.
Eh...hrm...?
You are the last person I would have expected to argue against those three sentences.
Oh well. To each his own.
Joe.
I have everything of Flecktones and Wooten.
I meant I'd like to listen to music from the player who had posted something about JB at this thread. And you also, Mr. Brad Johnson.
That may be the first coherent post I've read from you. Congrats.
What do you need, a post of me playing a ton of notes or a song-supporting groove? And you would like to listen as some kind of counterpoint to something I didn't say in this thread?
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Hmmmm.... not sure about this statement. I'm currently going to PSOM, so I have a bit of experience with the school and Jeff personally.
Some students may indeed talk bigger than they walk... I've not run into any of this personally, so I can't really say. But to say the school is brow-beating people is way off base. I understand who Jeff is, that he has some celebrity, and has toured/played with a multitude of great musicians. I'm not much of a Jazz-head, so to me, Jeff is Jeff. I don't idolize him one bit because of who he is and what he's done. I do 'idolize' him in that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to academic learning of music. He know's what's what, and to be completely honest, he's an awesome teacher. I am coming to this school with essentially no musical knowledge whatsoever, pertaining to theory or whatever. It's been a week, and I'm already reading, soloing (poorly) over chord changes, transposing a little, and learning all the little nuances that make music what it is! In this short amount of time, I've completely changed who I am as a musician, and it has mainly to do with Jeff, and his patience. Jeff does have his opinions, but he does not teach opinions at this school, he simply teaches musical fact, plain and simple. As far as holding back musical info, different people learn at different speeds. I'm sure he's holding back on me, but it's simply because I need to learn what he's teaching me now, so that when I get to the next level, I'll be ready... hopefully that made sense.
Bottom line is this- most people have nor will they ever meet Jeff. I've not only met him, but have had the chance to sit with him privately and discuss things. He even had me proof-read his latest myspace bulletin. Regardless, alot of the stuff I see on TB seems to be more hearsay or speculation than anything. Sure, Jeff knows what he believes, and to him it's fact, even though others may disagree, but he's not a prick for making sure people know what he knows. He's trying to make everyone a better musician in any little way he can. It just seems like some people are too stuck in their ways to realize if they took his advice and practiced, they'd become a better musician. Flame away.
HAHA Joe! I'm not arguing against quitting the whining (well, once in a while, whining is fun) and playing the bass. Only the opening your mind part. I once had a gay person tell me, "Open your mind." Of course, he wasn't referring to my acceptance of gay people, which has never been in question. He was HITTING ON ME! Big difference! I shut my mind down in a hurry!Eh...hrm...?
You are the last person I would have expected to argue against those three sentences.
Oh well. To each his own.
Joe.
I would love to see this in your original language. As it is it makes no sense. Again.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
Do you know for sure what level of playing have they are at? what level they may practiced at? and studied at? How old are they? how long they may have been studying with Jeff?And this doesn't sound like actions that Jeff may teach his students. sound's to me like they're just being who the are for what ever reason they have chosen.
Do you have any proof of this?
Forget about Jeff Berlin. How about Wolfgang Mozart? Ol' Wolfy may write some catchy tunes, but he is a downright prat in person.
Good thing he's dead.Forget about Jeff Berlin. How about Wolfgang Mozart? Ol' Wolfy may write some catchy tunes, but he is a downright prat in person.
NicJimBass
Flossin'? I thought your name was Munson!
Do you want flames?
Not at all, it just seems like most people are not 'pro-Jeff', to put it lightly. I figured if I defended him, people would get on my case. So far, so good.
