Bass Musician Magazine - SPECIAL August 2014 Female Bassist Issue | Page 126

JENNIFER
Interview by Jon Moody

Jennifer Jo Oberle
jenniferjooberle.com
facebook.com/jennoberle
Some of the band(s) I Play With:
Five For Fighting, Vertical
Horizon, various freelance gigs
Gear I Use:
Fender Jazz & Precision Basses,
Epiphone Jack Casady, GHS
Strings, Ampeg SVT-CL, SVT-VR,
Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, ’64
Fender Bassman & whatever else
works for the gig

Jennifer Jo Oberle is a true freelancer; nearly
every time I’ve talked with her, our conversations
end with, “I have to run to *insert different gig*
so I’ll chat later!” Her rigs are as varied as the
gigs she plays, and she keeps her finger on
the pulse of the latest gear.
What made you decide to play bass?
It wasn’t a decision; it just happened.
How/Where did you learn to play?
I’ve always been musical. When I was a kid, I
studied piano and was a drummer for several
bands in NYC. My mom said that I was
singing since birth. I just picked up a bass
and immediately knew how to play dozens of
tunes. The instrument just made sense to me.
I borrowed my friend, Carlo Robelli’s, P-Bass
and a week later I was in a band, and then
a month later in a recording studio. Then, I
started working in the wedding/club band
scene in NYC.
I really didn’t know what I was doing, but still
I was constantly gigging for about 6 years
until I got the nerve to go to Berklee and learn
the correct way. I like to say I was self-taught
but Berklee definitely helped me gain an
understanding of the bass, and gave me the
skills to stay in demand.