Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Elliot Berman

Elliot Berman, 16

Rivers School, Weston

He is competing in the Manhattan School of Music's Charles Mingus Competition in New York City on Feb. 12.

Berman, a Concord resident, started playing bass as a fourth-grader. He started on an electric bass, but then got an upright one from his parents two years ago.

He likes jazz because of its creativity, which he feels is used more than in other genres. "There are solo opportunities for bass in jazz," he said. "The harmonies are complex."

He also likes the "hipness" of the jazz bassist. "It goes beyond technical proficiency," said Berman. He plays with a quartet at Rivers.

He said last year, a big band combo got in the Mingus competition, "the only combo to get in." They made a tape for this year's audition, and made the cut.

The final is Feb. 12 at the Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Music is in his DNA. His brother plays tenor sax, and goes to NYU, so Berman will join up with him next month. Berman has applied to NYU, the New England Conservatory, the Manhattan School of Music and Columbia. He has made it past the pre-screening process at all of them.