New Reggae Lines

[El Pollo Negro]

To the reggae players out there, maybe you can relate...
In my writing, I've fallen into an unfortunate groove, that when I hear a certain style of drumbeat (be it one-drop, ska, lovers, whatever) I can't help but fall into the same pattern. I go in and out of these ruts every now and again, and I don't need any advise to know that it's just a matter of stepping back and listening more. So in my search for inspirato, I'm asking for some of your favorite reggae bass lines (not necessarily your favorite songs). I'm familiar with plenty of standards, so try to think of something outside the box, and either rhythmically or harmonically unique. A nice mix of styles would be great too!

Also, I'm new to this forum, so I'd enjoy getting a chance to hear from some other lovers of Jamaican music

Thanks, all

[Gearhead43]

I am a big reggae fan and played in reggae / rocksteady bands for most of my life.

Whenever I get in a rut, I always go back to the Rocksteady era (and early Reggae era) grooves for inspiration - specifically my all-time favorite group, The Ethiopians and others like Toots & The Maytals, The Melodians, The Techniques, The Paragons, The Termites, Symarip / Pyramids, etc (I could go on for a long time). The Rocksteady era studio musicians were going into a very exciting and experimental period in reggae. Also bands like The Aggrovators and The Supersonics, etc - Jackie Mittoo stuff, etc.

There is simply just so much good music from that period in Jamaican music that you can keep collecting records almost forever. - and there are TONS of classic riddims to explore.

[El Pollo Negro]

Gearhead, good to hear from you, Brother!
'Love the groups you mentioned-- and agreed, the Ethiopians get me moving more than most! I've taken a page from their book plenty of times. Tracks like Conquering Lion and Toots' pomp and pride are two riddims I always think of when approaching scalar lines.

Termites is a new one for me. Look forward to checking them out

[Gearhead43]

Cool man, there are a few reggae cats around here. I lean toward the older/early reggae sounds, but there are some others more into Roots, Dancehall, etc. I like a bit of all styles though. We are not alone!

[One Drop]

I agree going back to the roots will offer tons of ideas and inspiration. Reggae bassists have been pillaging the source recordings throughout its history, so you won't be limiting yourself stylistically.

Studio one is a treasure trove, especially from the Rock Steady era through the turn of the decade, comprising the birth of reggae and roots. A lot of the now common rhythmic devices originated at this time, too. The Studio One session men went under different names, and the period when they were the Sound Dimension in particular through out some incredible lines that have endured to this day. It was an incredible time when the song was all important, and there was often a combination of great lyrics and vocal performances, often with gorgeous harmonies, and outrageous musical collaboration with a lot of experimentation soundwise.

Harmonically I find Aston Barrett is always interesting, as is the way he follows and accentuates the vocal melodies.

In the end the music is still fairly simple, though, and personally I aim to make simple lines interesting by subtly altering the rests and accents, evolving the lines and making sure the song keeps breathing, and making every single note count. Complicating things never seems to work, IMO.

[Jluckie3]

welcome, you can never go wrong with anything by Family Man Barett, Flabba Holt or Robbie Shakespeare. If you want to think outside the box a bit you could check out Horace Panter of the Specials, Nate Edgar of John Browns Body, Marley Williams of Rebelution, or Eric Wilson of Sublime

[bass12]

+1 on the Studio one stuff and, of course, for the rocksteady era Duke Reid was the man. Ronnie McQueen from Steel Pulse had some interesting and original lines. Check out the album "True Democracy". You might also want to check out some African reggae. A lot of Alpha Blondy's stuff has really nice bass lines (try albums such as "Apartheid Is Nazism", "Jah Glory", "Masada" and "Cocody Rock"). Also check out Tiken Jah Fakoly and Lucky Dube. For a really twisted take on reggae, find some "seggae" from Île de la Réunion. You might also want to check out some of Robbie Shakespeare's playing with the Compass Point house band - in particular the albums they did with Grace Jones ("Nightclubbing", "Warm Leatherette" and "Living My Life").

[Jluckie3]

Originally Posted by bass12

+1 on the Studio one stuff and, of course, for the rocksteady era Duke Reid was the man. Ronnie McQueen from Steel Pulse had some interesting and original lines. Check out the album "True Democracy". You might also want to check out some African reggae. A lot of Alpha Blondy's stuff has really nice bass lines (try albums such as "Apartheid Is Nazism", "Jah Glory", "Masada" and "Cocody Rock"). Also check out Tiken Jah Fakoly and Lucky Dube. For a really twisted take on reggae, find some "seggae" from Île de la Réunion. You might also want to check out some of Robbie Shakespeare's playing with the Compass Point house band - in particular the albums they did with Grace Jones ("Nightclubbing", "Warm Leatherette" and "Living My Life").

alpha blondy is AMAZING check out live at au zenith for an awesome up front bass tone

[Gearhead43]

Originally Posted by One Drop

I agree going back to the roots will offer tons of ideas and inspiration. Reggae bassists have been pillaging the source recordings throughout its history, so you won't be limiting yourself stylistically.

Studio one is a treasure trove, especially from the Rock Steady era through the turn of the decade, comprising the birth of reggae and roots. A lot of the now common rhythmic devices originated at this time, too. The Studio One session men went under different names, and the period when they were the Sound Dimension in particular through out some incredible lines that have endured to this day. It was an incredible time when the song was all important, and there was often a combination of great lyrics and vocal performances, often with gorgeous harmonies, and outrageous musical collaboration with a lot of experimentation soundwise.

Harmonically I find Aston Barrett is always interesting, as is the way he follows and accentuates the vocal melodies.

In the end the music is still fairly simple, though, and personally I aim to make simple lines interesting by subtly altering the rests and accents, evolving the lines and making sure the song keeps breathing, and making every single note count. Complicating things never seems to work, IMO.

+1 Great post One Drop!

I agree 100% about keeping it simple, and most of all keeping the rhythm hitting HARD!

[Floridabwoy]

There are a lot of huge culture riddims out. I would suggest getting Sizzla - Da Real Thing album and taking a good listen to it. I have been digging Truth & Rights Riddim personally. Swing Low, Sleng Teng are always fun to play.

http://www.broz-reggae-tabs.com/

good site

[bass12]

Originally Posted by Jluckie3

alpha blondy is AMAZING check out live at au zenith for an awesome up front bass tone

I almost mentioned that album as well! Definitely worth checking out.

[El Pollo Negro]

Thanks for the responses, guys! I'm not surprised to see a lot of studio one responses, though I'm already acquainted with most of these guys. Bass12 and Jluckie, thanks for putting me on to Alpha Blondy! I'm loving these guys and sorry to say I hadn't found them earlier

[dave2]

The Wailers are playing a show here in Dallas this Sunday. I'll be there!! Family Man should be playing the bass with them. I'll be there at 7 PM when the doors open at HOB.

The Wailers website

Also +1 to Steel Pulse bassist (I saw them here last spring) and Alpha Blondy's band is great too.


You can not go wrong with listening to Sly Dunbar on drums and Robbie Shakespeare on bass. I saw them years ago backing Black Uhuru. They are an absolutely incredible team!!!!

+1 to the early rocksteady music. Find a 'best of' or something and play it loud. I love those 60s/70s Jamaican recordings

Best in 2010!!

Dave

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by El Pollo Negro

Thanks for the responses, guys! I'm not surprised to see a lot of studio one responses, though I'm already acquainted with most of these guys. Bass12 and Jluckie, thanks for putting me on to Alpha Blondy! I'm loving these guys and sorry to say I hadn't found them earlier

Boris Gardiner has a unique approach- lots of great stuff on Lee Perry's Black Ark recordings.

Bunny Lee is one of my favorite producers- he got the best from his session guys in the '70s, and there are some less well known killer basslines from his productions during this period.

I love Lloyd Parke's work on the Big Youth album Dreadlocks Dread, strictly Rockers, and of course Fully Fullwood was very influential with Soul Syndicate- they reintegrated a soul/jazz vibe to a lot of the music of the period. It's a pity they didn't do more in that style.

Of course, there is all the great Flabba Holt stuff with Roots Radics to mine- they really changed the sound of reggae and his approach was a big part of it. I saw him again a few years ago with Israel Vibration, he is the essence of the smooth, cushion of bass that is so satisfyingly sparse yet all-enveloping. A study in playing the spaces!

[Sounbwoy]

I think most of the original patterns belong to Robbie Shakespeare - listen to almost any Black Uhuru album from the early '80's.

Dave2 - Would love to hear back about the show. Don't forget there are 2 Wailers bands out on tour - The Wailers with Fams, and The ORIGINAL Wailers - with Junior Marvin. The bass player on that tour is a rock solid bassie that used to be a fixture on the Washington D.C scene and used to play with Mojanaya. - Steve (forgets last name