We would look at each other as if to say, Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™This is horrible music!Р Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ I was only 9 years old, but already I was a classical snob. My teacher would drive me home Р Р†Р вЂљРІР‚Сљ I must have been 9 years old Р Р†Р вЂљРІР‚Сљ and because I was studying in the summer, she would buy me an ice cream as a reward and we would hear Elvis and Little Richard coming from the radio at the ice cream place. When I was a kid, I used to take violin lessons in the summertime in Rockville Center, New York, at a conservatory thatР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs now closed. So I watched them and I wasnР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћt particularly impressed with the band because they didnР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћt do what I did and, being a young kid and a classical snob, I wouldnР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћt have any interest in participating in or doing their music, but it wasnР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћt long before they crept right into the marrow of my bones. They were on that night and they had already generated a buzz. I had never heard of the Beatles until my neighbor across the street told me about the show. JB: I would say for the same reasons that everybody else of my age did. I played recitals, I played in orchestras and IР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћm a well-schooled, well-trained classical student, thank goodness.Р вЂќР вЂЎBPO: So how did you make the transition from violin ultimately to the bass? It prepared me to think way more broadly than I might have thought had I not been trained in classical music. It changed my life to this moment that weР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћre talking. It wasnР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћt the music I would have chosen, but you will never meet a person more grateful than me for having experienced ten years of classical training. So, they decided I had a good musical ear and, when I turned five, my parents gave me violin lessons. He was an opera singer and, when I was a kid, I would imitate some of the Italian lieder, phonetically singing them when I was about a year old. JB: From pretty much the first months of my life, I heard classical music because my father played it all the time. Tell me about your musical upbringing and how you ended up as a bass player. JeffР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs numerous recording credits include seven highly acclaimed solo records: Champion, Pump It!, Taking Notes, In HarmonyР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs Way, Lumpy Jazz, Aneurythms and the just-released High Standards, recorded with pianist Richard Drexler and drummer Danny Gottlieb.Р вЂќР вЂЎBPO: LetР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs start from the beginning. His columns in Guitar Player and Bass Player magazines were wildly popular and often controversial. Jeff is the founder of The Players School of Music in Clearwater, Florida, and has also been at the forefront of music education for almost 30 years. JeffР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs playing has been lauded by bass greats no less than Jaco Pastorius, Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller. He has also toured with BX3, a conglomeration with fellow bassists Stuart Hamm and Billy Sheehan. A true master of the bass, Jeff has played with the likes of Bill Bruford, George Benson and Allan Holdsworth and has toured with the original members of Yes. Jeff Berlin is considered by many to be the finest electric bass player in the world. Even rockers and pop musicians are noticing this old jazz bass player.Bass icon recounts the journey from his days as a classical violinist to becoming one of the most highly regarded electric bass players in the world!Р вЂќР’В®xclusive interview with FBPOР Р†Р вЂљРІвЂћСћs Jon Liebman I hope that I can be worthy of their attention. Even rockers and pop musicians are noticing this old jazz bass player.What an honor!Р Р†Р вЂљРЎСљ

His solos are amongst the greatest ever played on a bass guitar, and as Jeff says, Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™The older that I get, the more that people seem to pay attention to my playing.

Jeff Berlin continues to record and tour throughout the world with his original style, technical proficiency and highest-caliber musicianship influencing the newest generation of players. From Jazz/Fusion virtuosos such as Allan Holdsworth, Bill Bruford Larry Coryell, Yes, Billy Cobham, Scott Henderson, Dennis Chambers, John McLaughlin, and Michael and Randy Brecker, Jeff established himself as one of the world's most influential bass players.

What is it about Jeff Berlin that brings out such high praise from legends of the international music community?Р вЂќР вЂЎor over forty years Jeff's innovative approach to the electric bass has been heard on dozens of recordings and in performances with an unprecedented array of diverse artists.

Jeff berlin cort bass