Roots Archives Forum

As a reggae bassist I know that both Robbie and Flabba have been hugely influential, especially Flabba. As a British reggae bassist, however, I would like to put in a word for the guy from Aswad (forgive me I can't remember the name offhand), but some of his basslines were among the very best reggae basslines.

MightyZ

www.last.fm/music/mightyz

george oban, mighty z. i dont care for aswad too too much, i like it a little more raw, but i do enjoy the heady bass lines.
leroy sibbles has always been a favorite.
some of boris gardiner's lines on scratch's "roast fish and cornbread" album (paritcularly on "soulfire") cant be beat, funky and very melodic
much love

Thanks jahganja for the info!
I totally agree with your opinions on Aswad - they got worse as time went on - they started out a punchy political band and ended up pop reggae! Most of the bass lines that led me to admire George Oban as a bassist were from the early days, tracks like 3 babylon.

MightyZ

check out mightyz's basslines:
www.last.fm/music/mightyz

My vote goes to Flabba...

Big respects to ROOTS RADICS!!!

Robbie Shakespeare said that Aston Barrett was his Master. So, like it had been said in the Bible, no one can be bigger than his master (I don't remember exactly how it was written).
I really think that Fams is the best, he's ROOTS. Robbie is younger, and it's a different groove, more "progressist" (listen to Sinsemilla and RED, Black Uhuru).

ERROL FLABBA HOLT
ALWAYS N FOREVER
ALL OVER
ROBBIE

Flabba - hands down, the numero uno!

As a reggae bassist, I love the way Flabba plays the bass. BUT.....I have to say that my favorite reggae bass player is Clinton Fearon from the Gladiators. Some of his lines are total murders, and the man could sing too!!! I can't believe no one else feels the same way.

Rumble 619

i like the bass from wackie records and rythym and sound bass.no idea who does it.

I think Robbie and Jackie Jackson from the Rocksteady years.