same for me. deep groovers
also whoever played on all Jackie Mittoo's stuff, like get up and get it, hot tamale, hot milk, etc. deep groove there as well.
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Which are your favorite reggae bassists?
- Thread starter sabbath1977
- Start date
same for me. deep groovers
also whoever played on all Jackie Mittoo's stuff, like get up and get it, hot tamale, hot milk, etc. deep groove there as well.
same for me. deep groovers
Probably mostly Leroy Sibbles, lead singer in the Heptones, also did a lot of backing vocals at Studio One, and of course laid down some crucial bass lines during those years. Look for Queen of the Minstrels, just a killer line.
The house band at Studio One at that time was the Soul Vendors, they cut some of my favorite riddims and so many great tracks. Other bassists on those tracks would have been Jackie Jackson and others, whoever was available from the pool of musicians that did the rounds of the studios in the day.
Here's Flabba Holt rocking very cool and calm.
And here's very lively Amlak Tafari never loosing the riddim.
And here's very lively Amlak Tafari never loosing the riddim.
I saw Flabba with Israel Vibration in a tiny club in Stockholm a few years back, on his Höfner through an SVT Classic. He played with a real light touch and the sound was HUGE. I was less than 5m from his rig.
According to this clip Amlak Tafari seems to be quite a nice person but maybe not a hard-working salesman.
Nathan East - definitely not one of my favourite reggae bassists.
Love the guy, but that was just a cliché-fest, reggae in outline only.
Yeah, I don't think he could have assembled a less adept rhythm section for reggae if he'd tried.
Val Douglas - currently plays with the skatalites. He wrote and recorded many basslines on Survival and other Bob & the Wailers records. Family man is credited, and is by far one of my favorites, but Val is a MONSTER in his own right. Check him out.
Also Nate Edgar of John Brown's Body and Stu Brooks of Dub Trio play some mean bass lines. Listen to "Plantation" off JBB's newest record.
Also Nate Edgar of John Brown's Body and Stu Brooks of Dub Trio play some mean bass lines. Listen to "Plantation" off JBB's newest record.
AndrewFord
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- Aug 11, 2012
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Nathan East - definitely not one of my favourite reggae bassists.
Yes, totally hilarious clip. And the band was great,too. Love to be on the scene when Nathan tells Flabba that Flabba's lines are boring, but Nathan is ready to give some pointers how to flourish those boring lines with some jazzy licks.
Gotta warn you that next clips contain more of reggae boredom, but Devon Bradshaw (ex-Burning Spear ) has such a nice tone (both voice and bass).
I really like Earl Falconer who played for UB40. Awesome tone out of that Steinberger. Wish I could play as clean and sound as good as he did. I also like Devon Bradshaw of Burning Spear and Axx of Jahpostles. 
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One of my favorites, he is responsible for a large part of the bass played on Lee Perry's Black Ark recordings, too.
Brian Atkinson often is credited on Studio One sessions of the same period as Leroy Sibbles, I think he was actually the one who did 'Hot Milk'. Thanks to the poster that name checked him, I'll check out his site later!
Great thread.
I was just watching "Babylon" last night which Bovell did a lot of the music for.
- Sep 14, 2012
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Great bassist and producer. One of the guys who put UK reggae on the map in the '70's.
Very underrated but my main man, Patrick Waite, from the 80s reggae group, "Musical Youth."
Gosh he was such a young kid, but his skills on bass were mesmerizing!
After hearing, "Rub N' Dub," a few years ago (I think I was 13) it made me want to pick up a bass and start jammin' on some heavy riddims!
Died too soon though, 24 I think! Such a great bass player, very quiet and humble guy!
R.I.P Patrick!
Gosh he was such a young kid, but his skills on bass were mesmerizing!
After hearing, "Rub N' Dub," a few years ago (I think I was 13) it made me want to pick up a bass and start jammin' on some heavy riddims!
Died too soon though, 24 I think! Such a great bass player, very quiet and humble guy!
R.I.P Patrick!
