Jeff Berlin

Biography

Jeffrey Arthur Berlin (born January 17, 1953) is an American jazz rock bassist and composer. He first came to prominence in the 1970s as a member of the band Bruford, led by drummer Bill Bruford.

Musical career

Berlin was born on January 17, 1953, in Queens, New York. He studied violin from 5 until 15 years of age, when he was inspired to play bass guitar after seeing the Beatles. He attended Berklee College of Music to study bass. He was influenced by Jack Bruce, Paul McCartney, Tim Bogert, and Jack Casady early on, and later by Rocco Prestia and Jaco Pastorius.
After session work with Patrick Moraz, David Liebman and Patti Austin, he gained widespread international attention in 1977 when British musician Bill Bruford handpicked him for his debut album Feels Good to Me. He played in Bruford's namesake band until 1980. His Bruford bandmate Allan Holdsworth employed Berlin for his 1983 Warner Brothers album Road Games.
Berlin continued to record and tour throughout the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Style and appreciation

In a review for Berlin's album Low Standards×Low Standards19 March 2013 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1E.S.P.4:522El Gaucho5:103Falling Grace5:324Fee Fi Fo Fum6:145Vashkar4:266Very Early6:257Whisper Not6:008James6:03, Bass Musician Magazine said: "Anytime I mention [Jeff Berlin], there seems to be a ripple in the force and the wave of Berlin supporters or antagonists come to the surface and spout-off their opinions. No matter where you stand regarding Jeff's musical philosophy, no one can reasonably deny the simple fact that Jeff seriously knows his craft and is one of the major players of our time."
Berlin's melodic, lead-bass playing style was heavily influenced by that of Jaco Pastorius; despite this, Berlin has repeatedly stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.

Personal life

On August 30, 2013, Berlin married Gabriela Sinagra, a jazz singer and vocal coach from Rosario, Argentina.

Solo

1985 Champion (Passport Jazz)
1986 Pump It! (Passport Jazz)
1997 Taking Notes (Denon)
1998 Crossroads (Denon)
2000 Star Licks Master Sessions: Jeff Berlin (Star Licks Productions) (VHS)
2000 In Harmony's Way (M.A.J. Records, multiple re-releases)
2004 Lumpy Jazz (M.A.J.)
2006 Aneurythms/Ace of Bass (M.A.J.)
2006 Mel Bay Jeff Berlin-Bass Logic from the Players School of Music (Mel Bay Publications) (DVD)
2010 High Standards (King Japan / M.A.J.)
2013 Low Standards (Random Act)
2022 Jack Songs (Jeff Berlin Music Group)

As sideman

1976 Patrick Moraz – The Story of I (Charisma (UK), Atlantic (US/Canada), Voiceprint (reissue))
1976 Esther Phillips – Capricorn Princess
1976 Patti Austin – End of a Rainbow (CTI)
1976 David Matthews with Whirlwind - Shoogie Wanna Boogie (CTI)
1977 Ray Barretto – Eye of the Beholder (Atlantic)
1977 David Liebman – Light'n Up, Please! (A&M)
1977 Ernie Krivda – Satanic (Inner City)
1977 Bruford – Feels Good to Me
1978 Don Pullen – Montreux Concert (Atlantic)
1979 David Sancious – Just As I Thought
1979 Bruford – One of a Kind (Winterfold)
1980 Bruford – Gradually Going Tornado (Winterfold)
1980 Passport - Lifelike
1980 Joe Diorio – 20th Century Impressions
1981 Bruford – The Bruford Tapes (Winterfold)
1981 Herbie Mann – Mellow
1983 Allan Holdsworth – Road Games
1983 Janis Ian – Uncle Wonderful
1984 Clare Fischer and Salsa Picante – Crazy Bird
1985 Shumate-Reno Jazz Quintet – Hurricane
1986 Bruford - Master Strokes: 1978–1985
1986 T Lavitz – Storytime
1987 Henderson-Berlin-Smith-Lavitz – Players
1987 Kazumi Watanabe – The Spice of Life
1988 Kazumi Watanabe – The Spice of Life Too
1993 k.d. lang – Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
1993 Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe – An Evening of Yes Music Plus
1994 Nathan Cavaleri Band – Nathan
1995 Richie Kotzen – The Inner Galactic Fusion Experience
1995 Michael Zentner – Playtime
2002 Novecento – Featuring...
2006 Chambers - Jeff Berlin-Fiuczynski-Lavitz – Boston T Party
2006 Bruford – Rock goes to College - (2006 DVD Winterfold Records)
2012 Henderson-Berlin-Chambers – HBC (Tone Center)
2013 Nick Miller – My Memories