Ben Bernstein: About
Welcome to the online home of Ben Bernstein Music (BBM) & Petting Zoo Studio.
BBM offers Music Production services including:
Recording, Mixing, Mobile Recording, Composition, and Arranging.
"Ben is the producer I’ve been looking for." Ryan Mintz, Singer-Songwriter
Having traversed a musical path that led him from Iowa to Chicago, Austin, New York and now to Oakland, CA, Ben Bernstein has established himself as a sought-after bassist and music producer. As a multi-instrumentalist well versed in a wide spectrum of musical genres including Rock, Jazz, Americana, Latin, Funk, and Bluegrass, Ben is a favorite resource for local and touring artists wishing to complete live and studio projects. Ben freelances at Pyramind Sound in San Francisco as an Audio Engineer for Music and Voice Over Sessions, and works out of his own Petting Zoo Studio. Please contact Ben Bernstein for more information.
captain@benbernsteinmusic.com
Producer
Petting Zoo Studio is a fully operational music production space, equally suited for the solo artist, as well as bands looking for a cozy place to record or mix their next project. Ben’s solo project “Petting Zoo” (2006) immersed Bernstein more deeply in the studio environment and his interest in the artistic power of recording deepened. To further his audio training and skills, Ben enrolled in San Francisco’s leading digital and audio training facility The Pyramind Institute. After completing his studies and receiving a certificate in Digital Audio Production, Ben taught Pro Tools Certification classes for six months while constructing his home studio, The Petting Zoo. Petting Zoo production credits include the first full-length release by San Francisco Singer/Songwriter Deborah Crooks “Adding Water to the Ashes,” (2008). Featuring a cast of top Bay Area musicians (Art Khu on Keys, Dave Tweedie on Drums, and Bernstein on Bass) the disc received accolades for its artistry and production quality and extensive radio airplay. "...“Adding Water to the Ashes” is an excellent production and I was drawn in immediately by the high standard of musicianship and songwriting. There are assertive drum beats and imaginative arrangements throughout the CD." - Gilli Moon, Songsalive! At the same time, Ben worked on producing and mixing the debut release for Bucky, employing a multitude of Analog tricks and techniques to give the CD a truly old school vibe. One of Bucky's songs "Juany" was released on the Epiphyte Records compilation "Evolution One."
Bassist
Performing nonstop since he was in High School, Ben’s extensive bass credits include performing with groundbreaking bluegrass projects, definitive jam bands and award-winning jazz ensembles on the nation’s premier stages. He also holds a Certificate in advanced bass studies from The Bass Collective, where he studied with some of New York’s’ finest bassists including John Patitucci, Lincoln Goines, and Matthew Garrison, and completed upright bass and jazz Studies at the New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York. When not performing, Ben is a bass instructor at San Francisco’s Blue Bear School of Music.
Solo & Original Work
Ben drew on his vast experience to create his first solo effort, “Petting Zoo” (2006) co-produced by his Stolen Bibles band mate Dave Tweedie. Featuring 11 of Ben’s originals, the release highlights his diverse talents as a songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. Recorded partially in his apartment and at Chocolate O’Brien studios in Oakland, CA, “Petting Zoo” includes light and catchy acoustic pop songs, psychedelia and Dylan-esque stylings. When not working on studio projects, Ben can currently be seen performing bass with J.L. Stiles, Sean Garvey, and Hobo Paradise.