Jeff Berlin

A flexible and powerful electric bassist, Jeff Berlin was one of the major fusion bassist to emerge during the mid-'70s. His father sang opera and his mother played piano. Berlin had nine years of violin lessons starting from when he was five and was considered a child prodigy, appearing with orchestras in New York City. However, when he was 14 he switched directions and began playing electric bass; <a href="spotify:artist:73ndLgs6jSrpZzjyzU9TJV">Jack Bruce</a> was an early hero. Berlin attended the Berklee College of Music for a time and then moved back to New York. For a short period he was in a trio with <a href="spotify:artist:5CK3a77IzCSHjNqzRcbhuG">Allan Holdsworth</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1TW90GjShgkjySrxBxcwQe">Tony Williams</a>. In 1975 he recorded in Europe with <a href="spotify:artist:7AC976RDJzL2asmZuz7qil">Yes</a> keyboardist <a href="spotify:artist:5alexP1Baw0KmMEHWOEVVj">Patrick Moraz</a> and then in New York he became quite busy with studio work, club dates, and record sessions. Berlin played with many top musicians including <a href="spotify:artist:4DlMMgnldzX6OkCskmeGKz">Pat Martino</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7g9DeYASD3RzlT4kDchsQZ">Gil Evans</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0KyolDFb1RjJQb4qXZKCqo">Toots Thielemans</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3bBWKHfpepPOychRNFzg4q">Al DiMeola</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4N8BwYTEC6XqykGvXXlmfv">George Benson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:00Nnsh2ykMBYnCDsSFGXSY">Earl Klugh</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:25s8YpOLWqI2SgTlvapJyQ">Larry Coryell</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6ryjbFyWBZho9KGXqKZdqQ">Bob James</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:429bUEZe2Hq5QJvO2CmhLn">Dave Liebman</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6ycoXr0Ayd89vFUT6BOiWo">Herbie Mann</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2h4ndKS2vRWeFLpq8ARu0D">Ray Barretto</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:45rpaf8BR69NIPqmeAYb7l">the Brecker Brothers</a> and others. Berlin was also a regular member of <a href="spotify:artist:1359ogdBoLfQGxKfUDfWaz">Bill Bruford</a>'s band (which included guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:5CK3a77IzCSHjNqzRcbhuG">Holdsworth </a>and keyboardist Dave Stewart) for a couple years starting in 1977; four recordings resulted.

Berlin subsequently moved to Los Angeles, worked in clubs with <a href="spotify:artist:7iqVI0BpCxVVHyVyGSfAmn">Scott Henderson</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:61qjWk6PBpwXqSk4gmRuAC">Frank Gambale</a>, became an educator (helping to found the Bass Institute of Technology), played rock (including with <a href="spotify:artist:6ra4GIOgCZQZMOaUECftGN">Frank Zappa</a>), and turned down an opportunity to join <a href="spotify:artist:2cnMpRsOVqtPMfq7YiFE6K">Van Halen</a>. During 1985-1986 Berlin recorded two fusion/rock dates for the soon-defunct Passport label. He moved to Florida in 1990 and toured with <a href="spotify:artist:7AC976RDJzL2asmZuz7qil">Yes</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4v0R1feRiuCDch7aAheVhY">John McLaughlin</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0IwfuIL3gUJxjzUqY3wJ3j">Billy Cobham</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0hN39DYSFjh3IhSIpsFwXr">Kazumi Watanabe</a>, and other musicians from a wide variety of creative genres. In addition, he began teaching at the Players School. His third set as a leader, 1997's Taking Notes for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Denon%22">Denon</a>, was Berlin's most jazz-oriented set to date. He continued releasing a number of albums into the 21st century, including Lumpy Jazz (2004) with his core trio featuring pianist <a href="spotify:artist:5WDmunRkKIa4jqnpJy4dG1">Richard Drexler</a> and drummer <a href="spotify:artist:29aflj7NM4ocg7fMqbhifM">Danny Gottlieb</a>; the highly regarded In Harmony's Way (2004) with guest appearances by saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:429bUEZe2Hq5QJvO2CmhLn">David Liebman</a>, vibraphonist <a href="spotify:artist:4iovNkf44dsELmo3E7XSKX">Gary Burton</a>, and guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:3zX0EMvB00JzxnRi5EIICP">Mike Stern</a>; Ace of Bass/Aneurythms (2006); and the piano trio-oriented High Standards (2010), again featuring <a href="spotify:artist:5WDmunRkKIa4jqnpJy4dG1">Drexler</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:29aflj7NM4ocg7fMqbhifM">Gottlieb</a> in addition to the session leader. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi