Roy Babbington Cosmopolite 2018 (212014)

Roy Babbington (born 8 July 1940 in Kempston,

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

, England) is a rock and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low bra ...

. He became well known for being a member of the Canterbury scene

progressive rock Progressive rock (shortened as prog rock or simply prog; sometimes conflated with art rock) is a broad genre of rock music that developed in the United Kingdom and United States through the mid- to late 1960s, peaking in the early 1970s. Init ...

band Soft Machine.

Biography

Babbington started his musical career in 1958, playing

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

in local jazz bands. At the age of 17 he took up the post of double bass, doubling on electric guitar (on such numbers as Cliff Richard's "Move It" on Monday's Rock 'n' Roll evening) with The Leslie Thorp Orchestra at the Aberdeen Beach Ballroom, where he honed his sight reading skills. After moving to London in 1969, he joined the band Delivery, one of the side roots of the Canterbury scene with Phil Miller,

Pip Pyle Phillip "Pip" Pyle (4 April 1950 – 28 August 2006) was an English-born drummer from Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, who later resided in France. He is best known for his work in the progressive rock Canterbury scene bands Gong, Hatfie ...

and Lol Coxhill. Also, he began to work as a session musician with jazz/ fusion musicians like Michael Gibbs and The Keith Tippett Group (including

Elton Dean Elton Dean (28 October 1945 – 8 February 2006) was an English jazz musician who performed on alto saxophone, saxello (a variant of the soprano saxophone) and occasionally keyboards. Part of the Canterbury scene, he featured in, among oth ...

), appearing on their album ''Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening'' (1970) as well as in Tippett's big band project

Centipede Centipedes (from New Latin , "hundred", and Latin , " foot") are predatory arthropods belonging to the class Chilopoda (Ancient Greek , ''kheilos'', lip, and New Latin suffix , "foot", describing the forcipules) of the subphylum Myriapoda, an ...

(1971) and on Dean's album ''Just Us''. When Delivery disbanded in 1971 after an album with Carol Grimes titled '' Fools Meeting'', Babbington joined

Nucleus Nucleus ( : nuclei) is a Latin word for the seed inside a fruit. It most often refers to: *Atomic nucleus, the very dense central region of an atom * Cell nucleus, a central organelle of a eukaryotic cell, containing most of the cell's DNA Nucl ...

. He contributed to albums by Alexis Korner, Mike d'Abo,

Chris Spedding Christopher John Spedding (born Peter Robinson, 17 June 1944) is an English musician, singer, guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and record producer. In a career spanning more than 50 years, Spedding is best known for his st ...

, folk singers Harvey Andrews and Schunge, and was a part-time member of the bands

Solid Gold Cadillac Solid Gold Cadillac was a British jazz-rock group set up in the early 1970s. The band featured, variously, Roy Babbington (bass), Mike Westbrook (electric piano), Fi Trench (piano, organ), Chris Spedding (guitar), Brian Godding (guitar), Rick M ...

(jazz pianist's

Mike Westbrook Michael John David Westbrook (born 21 March 1936) is an English jazz pianist, composer, and writer of orchestrated jazz pieces. He is married to the vocalist, librettist and painter Kate Westbrook. Early work Mike Westbrook was born in High ...

rock band) and Keith Tippett's Ovary Lodge.

With Soft Machine

Having already contributed additional double bass parts to electric bassist

Hugh Hopper Hugh Colin Hopper (29 April 1945 – 7 June 2009) was a British progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and other bands. Biography Early career Starting ...

's work on the Soft Machine albums '' Fourth'' (1971) and '' Fifth'' (1972), he finally replaced Hopper fully in the band with the release of their album '' Seven''. He used a six-string Fender VI throughout his tenure with the band. In addition to ''Seven'', he can be heard on ''BBC Radio 1971-1974'', '' Bundles'', '' Softs'' and the library music project ''Rubber Riff'' (not actually a Soft Machine recording but featuring its members). Babbington's funk- and rock-oriented electric bass playing went along well with Karl Jenkins' and

John Marshall John Marshall (September 24, 1755July 6, 1835) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the fourth Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 until his death in 1835. He remains the longest-serving chief justice and fourth-longes ...

's fusion concept of Soft Machine at the time.

After 1976

After leaving Soft Machine, Babbington remained active on the UK jazz scene, playing with Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia, Joe Gallivan's Intercontinental Express and various bands led by pianist Stan Tracey. In 1979, he appeared on the album ''

Welcome to the Cruise ''Welcome to the Cruise'' is the debut album by British singer-songwriter Judie Tzuke, released in 1979. The album peaked at No. 14 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold in 1981 by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in excess ...

'' by

Judie Tzuke Judie Tzuke ( ; born Judie Myers, 3 April 1956) is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for her 1979 hit "Stay with Me till Dawn", which reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. Life and career Early life Tzuke's family relocated f ...

. In the 1980s and 1990s, he returned to his roots, double bass and pure jazz, and became affectionately know "the jazz handbrake". He also worked with

Elvis Costello Declan Patrick MacManus OBE (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award in 2020, and has twice been nom ...

, Carol Grimes,

Mose Allison Mose John Allison Jr. (November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016) was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to ...

and the BBC Big Band. In 2008, he played with Soft Machine Legacy and replaced Hugh Hopper as their electric bassist in 2009. Soft Machine Legacy changed their name back to just ''Soft Machine'' in 2015. On 7 December 2021 Soft Machine issued a press release announcing that Babbington was retiring from the band, to be replaced by Fred Thelonious Baker on bass.

Discography

As sideman

With Harvey Andrews * ''In the Darkness & Soldier'' (Cube, 1972) * ''Writer of Songs'' (Cube, 1972) * ''Friends of Mine'' (Cube, 1973) With Ian Carr * ''Belladonna'' (Vertigo, 1972) * ''Labyrinth'' (Vertigo, 1973) * ''Exit 1971'' (678 Records, 2020) With

* ''All This Useless Beauty'' (Warner Bros., 1996) * ''Live'' (Rhino, 1996) * ''Elvis Costello's Kojak Variety'' (Rhino, 2004) * ''The Juliet Letters'' (Rhino, 2006) With Soft Machine * '' Fourth'' (CBS, 1971) * '' Fifth'' (CBS, 1972) * '' Seven'' (CBS, 1973) * '' Bundles'' (Harvest, 1975) * '' Softs'' (Harvest, 1976) * ''Floating World Live'' (Moonjune, 2006) * ''Live Adventures'' (Moonjune, 2010) * ''Switzerland 1974'' (Cuneiform, 2015) * '' Hidden Details'' (Moonjune, 2018) * '' Burden of Proof'' (Moonjune, 2013) * ''Live at the Baked Potato'' (Dyad, 2020) With

Stan Tracey Stanley William Tracey (30 December 1926 – 6 December 2013) was a British jazz pianist and composer, whose most important influences were Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Tracey's best known recording is the 1965 album ''Jazz Suite Inspir ...

* ''South East Assignment'' (Steam, 1980) * ''The Crompton Suite'' (Steam, 1981) * ''Stan Tracey Now'' (Steam, 1983) * ''The Poets' Suite'' (Steam, 1984) * ''Live at Ronnie Scotts'' (Steam, 1986) * ''Stan Tracey Plays Duke Ellington'' (Mole Jazz, 1986) * ''Genesis'' (Steam, 1987) * ''We Still Love You Madly'' (Mole Jazz, 1989) With others *

, ''The Mose Chronicles'' (Blue Note, 2001) * BBC Big Band, ''Special Edition'' (Actionbyte, 1990) * Harry Beckett, ''We Got It Made'' (Ogun, 1977) *

Madeline Bell Madeline Bell (born July 23, 1942) is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the UK during the 1960s and 1970s with pop group Blue Mink, having arrived from America in the gospel show '' Black Nativity'' in 1962, with the ...

, ''Try a Little Tenderness'' (Big Time, 2002) *

Dave Cartwright Dave Cartwright (30 April 1943 – 8 August 2015) was a British singer, songwriter, guitarist and author. Born in Haslemere, Surrey, he grew up in Amblecote, West Midlands where, on lead guitar and vocal, he formed his first rock and roll group, ...

, ''Back to the Garden'' (Transatlantic, 1973) *

, ''Septober Energy'' (RCA, 1971) * Cherry Vanilla, ''Venus D'Vinyl'' (RCA Victor, 1979) * Graham Collier, ''

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'' (Mosaic, 1978) * Mike Cooper, ''Trout Steel'' (Dawn, 1970) * Mike d'Abo, ''D'Abo'' (Uni, 1970) * John Dankworth, ''Prelude to a Kiss'' (Sepia, 1981) *

, ''Elton Dean'' (CBS, 1971) * Geoff Eales, ''Mountains of Fire'' (Black Box Music, 1998) * Geoff Eales, ''Facing the Muse'' (Mainstem, 2002) *

Keith Emerson Keith Noel Emerson (2 November 1944 – 11 March 2016) was an English keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He played keyboards in a number of bands before finding his first commercial success with the Nice in the late 1960s. He became ...

, ''Off the Shelf'' (Castle Music, 2006) * George Fenton & Trevor Preston, ''Fox the Album'' (EMI, 1980) * Michael Gibbs, ''Just Ahead'' (Polydor, 1972) * Carol Grimes, ''Fools Meeting'' (B&C, 1970) * John Harle, Elvis Costello, ''Terror and Magnificence'' (Argo, 1996) * Trevor Herion, ''Beauty Life'' (Interdisc, 1983) * Mark Isham, ''Cool World'' (Varese Sarabande, 1992) * Dave Jordan, ''Away from Home'' (Bradley, 1975) *

Jonathan Kelly Jonathan Kelly (born Jonathan Ledingham, 8 July 1947 – 2 May 2020) was an Irish folk rock singer-songwriter, who enjoyed a varied career in music, playing with many musicians and groups, including Eric Clapton and Tim Staffell. He formed Jon ...

, ''Wait Till They Change the Backdrop'' (RCA Victor, 1973) * Alexis Korner, ''Bootleg Him!'' (Warner Bros., 1972) * Vic Lewis, ''Vic Lewis Big Bands'' (Concept, 1988) *

Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter of Freedoms"), commonly called (also ''Magna Charta''; "Great Charter"), is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, Berkshire, Windsor, on 15 June 1215. ...

, ''Prisoners On the Line'' (Philips, 1978) *

Jackie McAuley Jackie McAuley (born 14 December 1946) is a Northern Irish guitarist and keyboard player, known particularly for his work with the bands Them and Trader Horne. Career As a member of Them (on keyboards) he recorded and toured with Van Morriso ...

, ''Jackie McAuley'' (Dawn, 1971) *

Sal Nistico Sal, SAL, or S.A.L. may refer to: Personal name * Sal (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or nickname Places * Sal, Cape Verde, an island and municipality * Sal, Iran, a village in East Azerbaijan Province * Ca ...

, ''Live in London'' (Steam, 1985) *

, ''Live in Bremen'' (Cuneiform, 2003) * Anna Oxa, ''Anna Oxa'' (RCA, 1979) * Charlie Rouse, ''Playin' in the Yard'' (Steam, 1987) * Alan Skidmore, ''East to West'' (Miles Music, 1992) *

, ''Solid Gold Cadillac'' (RCA Victor, 1972) *

, ''Backwood Progression'' (Harvest, 1970) * Barbara Thompson, ''Barbara Thompson's Jubiaba'' (MCA, 1978) * Barbara Thompson, ''Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia'' (MCA, 1978) * Keith Tippett, ''Dedicated to You but You Weren't Listening'' (Vertigo, 1971) * Keith Tippett, ''Blueprint'' (RCA Victor, 1972) *

, ''Welcome to the Cruise'' (Rocket, 1979) * Marlene VerPlanck, ''You Gotta Have Heart'' (Varese Sarabande, 1997) *

Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musica ...

& Tim Rice, ''Evita'' (Polydor, 1978) * Don Weller, ''Commit No Nuisance'' (Affinity, 1979) * Gary Windo, ''Anglo American'' (Cuneiform, 2004) *

Robert Wyatt Robert Wyatt (born Robert Wyatt-Ellidge, 28 January 1945) is a retired English musician. A founding member of the influential Canterbury scene bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, he was initially a kit drummer and singer before becoming p ...

, ''Flotsam Jetsam'' (Rough Trade, 1994) *

The Yetties The Yetties (John "Bonny" Sartin, Pete Shutler, and Mac McCulloch) were an English folk music group, who took their name from the Dorset village of Yetminster, their childhood home. In 1975, they released an album entitled '' The Yetties of Yet ...

, ''Up Market'' (Decca, 1977) * Chris Youlden, ''A British Blues Legend'' (London, 1979) * Chris Youlden, ''Nowhere Road'' (London, 1973)

Filmography

* 1996: Elvis Costello Live - A Case For Song (BBC) * 2005: Mose Allison - Ever Since I Stole The Blues (BBC) * 2015: '' Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales'' (DVD)

References

External links

Calyx: The Canterbury Website

Discography at yahoo.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Babbington, Roy 1940 births Living people English double-bassists Male double-bassists English bass guitarists English male guitarists Male bass guitarists Soft Machine members Canterbury scene People from Kempston Nucleus (band) members Delivery (band) members 21st-century double-bassists 21st-century British male musicians Solid Gold Cadillac members