The artist's trade is his skill, and what he produces with that skill must be something of value. But the one who gets to determine the value of that product is unfortunately not the artist but his audience.
I'm sympathetic to Miroslav's remark about music as an art and business. But any fine art is ultimately a medium of entertainment, and the commercial aspect cannot be divorced from it. Art, particularly music, is communication, and communication requires not only a communicator but an audience. And the interaction between communicator and audience manifests in a transaction. When was the last time you called Lang Lang for a date, and he flew over to your house and played for you...at no charge?
Jeff is certain of that which he knows. And what he knows is some of the most insightful, substantive truths about music, playing music, and being a musician. Now why it is that when he goes into music didactics from the foundation of his knowledge and tried experience he comes off to many of you as offensive and arrogant is simply beyond me. Listen to Jaco or any successful virtuoso talk. They all do so with a conviction. And many times, they hold ideas contrary to others and they defend them.
Jeff is tremendously talented, but having seen his interactions with people on Talkbass, I can tell you that he is a very nice guy unless you disagree with him in the slightest or try to call him on the way he insults his peers. And then he's not a nice guy at all.
I don't see him as arrogant. He just has a deep love and respect for the music - he just wants you to dig it too. Sure he may seem a little big headed at times - but so was Jaco. Jaco introduced himself as the "world's greatest bass player" - but his music was so great.
Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks it. Maybe the person he's talking to is not very good at speaking English, but the way he speaks very slowly makes him sound like he's talking to a kid. When he goes on about playing bass like a piano/guitar/horn player makes him sound even more of a gobshite. Instruments don't come with rule books, and there's many people out there who came before him who played bass as a lead instrument. He thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. LOL!
The artist's trade is his skill, and what he produces with that skill must be something of value. But the one who gets to determine the value of that product is unfortunately not the artist but his audience.
lisahayes3 1 year ago
I'm sympathetic to Miroslav's remark about music as an art and business. But any fine art is ultimately a medium of entertainment, and the commercial aspect cannot be divorced from it. Art, particularly music, is communication, and communication requires not only a communicator but an audience. And the interaction between communicator and audience manifests in a transaction. When was the last time you called Lang Lang for a date, and he flew over to your house and played for you...at no charge?
lisahayes3 1 year ago
Jeff is certain of that which he knows. And what he knows is some of the most insightful, substantive truths about music, playing music, and being a musician. Now why it is that when he goes into music didactics from the foundation of his knowledge and tried experience he comes off to many of you as offensive and arrogant is simply beyond me. Listen to Jaco or any successful virtuoso talk. They all do so with a conviction. And many times, they hold ideas contrary to others and they defend them.
lisahayes3 1 year ago
Jeff is tremendously talented, but having seen his interactions with people on Talkbass, I can tell you that he is a very nice guy unless you disagree with him in the slightest or try to call him on the way he insults his peers. And then he's not a nice guy at all.
JMillerbigass 1 year ago
If Berlin's so good , how come he can't heat that that horrible sounding chorus pedal's making him sharp ?
MrTrueseventh 1 year ago
I don't see him as arrogant. He just has a deep love and respect for the music - he just wants you to dig it too. Sure he may seem a little big headed at times - but so was Jaco. Jaco introduced himself as the "world's greatest bass player" - but his music was so great.
ZappaFan101 2 years ago
I have to say, Jeff Berlin is a great bass player, but he seems like a patronising, arrogant turd.
ClemenzaKimble 2 years ago
hes not:) trust me
Nekronaut321 2 years ago
True... Im kind of dissapointed. He has good points but just the way he describes hes band... He doesnt seem too humble
domogunner 2 years ago
Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks it. Maybe the person he's talking to is not very good at speaking English, but the way he speaks very slowly makes him sound like he's talking to a kid. When he goes on about playing bass like a piano/guitar/horn player makes him sound even more of a gobshite. Instruments don't come with rule books, and there's many people out there who came before him who played bass as a lead instrument. He thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. LOL!
ClemenzaKimble 2 years ago