Roy Babbington

Roy Babbington (born 8 July 1940 in Kempston, Bedfordshire, England) is a rock and jazz bassist. He became well known for being a member of the Canterbury scene progressive rock/jazz fusion band Soft Machine.

Biography

Babbington started his musical career in 1958, playing double bass 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'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 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), appearing on their album Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening (1970) as well as in Tippett's big band project Centipede (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.

He contributed to albums by Alexis Korner, folk singer Harvey Andrews, Mike d'Abo, Chris Spedding and was a part-time member of the bands "Schunge", Solid Gold Cadillac (with Mike Westbrook and Spedding among others) and Ovary Lodge.

With Soft Machine

Having already contributed additional double bass parts to electric bassist Hugh Hopper'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 Rubber Riff. Babbington's funk- and rock-oriented electric bass playing went along well with Karl Jenkins' and John Marshall'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, Intercontinental Express and various bands led by pianist Stan Tracey. In 1979, he appeared on the album Welcome to the Cruise by Judie Tzuke. In the 1980s and 90s, he returned to his roots, double bass and pure jazz, and became affectionately known by the musical community as the jazz handbrake. He also worked with Elvis Costello, Carol Grimes, Mose Allison and the BBC Big Band.

In 2008, he played with Soft Machine Legacy and has replaced Hugh Hopper as their electric bassist in 2009.

Personal life

Babbington has a daughter by the name of Nicola Babbington (Pearson) & sons Gary Mery and Nick Babbington.

Discography

With Graham Collier

• The Day of the Dead (Mosaic, 1978)

Filmography

• 2015: Romantic Warriors III: Canterbury Tales (DVD)