Jeff Berlin

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American jazz fusion bassist

title: "Jeff Berlin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["jazz-fusion-musicians", "1953-births", "living-people", "american-jazz-bass-guitarists", "american-male-bass-guitarists", "jazz-educators", "berklee-college-of-music-alumni", "musicians-institute-alumni", "20th-century-american-bass-guitarists", "20th-century-american-male-musicians", "american-male-jazz-musicians", "the-eleventh-house-members"] description: "American jazz fusion bassist" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Berlin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American jazz fusion bassist ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist "]

FieldValue
nameJeff Berlin
imageJeff_Berlin_2007_in_Austin_TX.jpg
captionBerlin performing in 2007
backgroundnon_vocal_instrumentalist
birth_nameJeffrey Arthur Berlin
birth_date
birth_placeQueens, New York, U.S.
genreJazz rock
progressive rock
occupationMusician
instrumentBass, vocals
years_active1970 — Present
labelDenon, Rock Empire, Random Act
associated_acts{{flat list
::

| name = Jeff Berlin | image = Jeff_Berlin_2007_in_Austin_TX.jpg | caption = Berlin performing in 2007 | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist | birth_name = Jeffrey Arthur Berlin | birth_date = | birth_place = Queens, New York, U.S. | genre = Jazz rock progressive rock | occupation = Musician | instrument = Bass, vocals | years_active = 1970 — Present | label = Denon, Rock Empire, Random Act | associated_acts = {{flat list|

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, 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.

Discography

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

References

References

  1. (2002). "The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz". Grove's Dictionaries Inc..
  2. Jisi, C.. "Brave New Bass". Hal Leonard Corporation.
  3. Mulhern, Tom. (1993). "Bass Heroes: Styles, Stories & Secrets of 30 Great Bass Players : from the Pages of Guitar Player Magazine". Backbeat Books.
  4. Ake, David Andrew. (2010). "Jazz Matters: Sound, Place, and Time Since Bebop". University of California Press.
  5. "Cliff Engel {{!}} Interviews - Jeff Berlin".
  6. "Low Standards: Jeff Berlin". Bass Musician Magazine.
  7. (September 2002). "Jeff Berlin: Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger!". Bass Inside.
  8. [http://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Berlin-Vox-Humana-Champion/release/1969315 Jeff Berlin & Vox Humana (4) - Champion (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs]
  9. [http://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Berlin-Pump-It/master/466368 Jeff Berlin - Pump It! at Discogs]
  10. [http://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Berlin-Taking-Notes/release/1701707 Jeff Berlin - Taking Notes (CD, Album) at Discogs]
  11. [http://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Berlin-Crossroads/release/3180211 Jeff Berlin - Crossroads (CD) at Discogs]
  12. [http://www.mtv.com/movies/movie/151113/moviemain.jhtml Star Licks Master Sessions: Jeff Berlin. MTV Movies]{{dead link. (June 2024)
  13. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-harmonys-way-mw0000214752 In Harmony's Way - Jeff Berlin. AllMusic]
  14. [http://www.discogs.com/Jeff-Berlin-Lumpy-Jazz/release/1255186 Jeff Berlin - Lumpy Jazz (CD, Album) at Discogs]
  15. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/aneurythms-mw0001105327 Aneurythms - Jeff Berlin. AllMusic]
  16. [https://www.amazon.com/Berlin-Bass-Logic-Players-School-Music/dp/B000LSBX6Q Amazon.com: Mel Bay Jeff Berlin-Bass Logic from the Players School of Music]
  17. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/high-standards-mw0002006395 High Standards - Jeff Berlin. AllMusic]
  18. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/low-standards-mw0002518616 Low Standards - Jeff Berlin. AllMusic]
  19. Parker, Matt. (August 5, 2022). "Jeff Berlin releases Jack Bruce tribute album featuring guitar solos from Alex Lifeson, Bumblefoot and Eric Johnson". [[Guitar World]].
  20. {{AllMusic. Mike. DeGagne
  21. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/capricorn-princess-mw0000872250 Capricorn Princess - Esther Phillips. AllMusic]
  22. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/end-of-a-rainbow-mw0000556533 End of a Rainbow - Patti Austin. AllMusic]
  23. [http://www.discogs.com/Dave-Matthews-3-With-Whirlwind-Shoogie-Wanna-Boogie/release/621429 David Matthews With Whirlwind - Shoogie Wanna Boogie (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs]
  24. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/eye-of-the-beholder-mw0000915299 Eye of the Beholder - Ray Barretto. AllMusic]
  25. [http://www.discogs.com/David-Liebman-Lightn-Up-Please/release/2068750 David Liebman - Light'n Up, Please! (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs]
  26. Liebman, Dave. (2012). "What It Is:The Life of a Jazz Artist". [[Rowman & Littlefield.
  27. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/satanic-mw0000875103 Satanic - Ernie Krivda. AllMusic]
  28. Kelma, John. (April 24, 2005). "Bill Bruford: Feels Good to Me and One of a Kind". [[All About Jazz]].
  29. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/montreux-concert-mw0000248512/ Montreux Concert - Don Pullen. AllMusic]
  30. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/just-as-i-thought-mw0000001186 Just as I Thought - David Sancious. AllMusic]
  31. [http://www.discogs.com/Bruford-One-Of-A-Kind/release/2070630 Bruford - One Of A Kind (CD, Album) at Discogs]
  32. Kelman, John. (October 14, 2005). "Bill Bruford: Feels Good to Me and One of a Kind". [[All About Jazz]].

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jazz-fusion-musicians1953-birthsliving-peopleamerican-jazz-bass-guitaristsamerican-male-bass-guitaristsjazz-educatorsberklee-college-of-music-alumnimusicians-institute-alumni20th-century-american-bass-guitarists20th-century-american-male-musiciansamerican-male-jazz-musiciansthe-eleventh-house-members