Abi the Root of Reggae Bass
Quiet in nature, steady in rhythm
The Steady Pulse of Mad Collective Connection
Quiet in nature, steady in rhythm. Abi doesn’t say much, he lets his bass do the talking. Deep and rich, his beat lays the foundation for every groove and every melody. As a global traveller, he has played in jazz clubs and reggae groups around the world, laying down the musical heartbeat. He is the steady hand that holds Mad Collective Connection together. No matter the stage, no matter the song, one thing remains constant—when Abi gets into a groove, the music moves with him.
Born in Sierra Leone, Abi has travelled the world with “Médecins Sans Frontières.”. He ended up in Kenya after the war, where he met his wife Ellie, a New Zealander, before settling in Australia.
Abi doesn’t just play his bass guitar, he feels it. Mad Collective Connection is anchored in the inescapable and passionate rhythm of each deep, steady groove he creates. He is undoubtably the heartbeat of the band. Although he has a strong love of all music, his soul resides in reggae—roots reggae.
Abi had a chance encounter with Dom, and they immediately gelled as friends and musicians. They jam whenever life permits and established the reggae band Fusion. Abi found methods to stay in touch even when his job required him to travel to South Africa. He joined a local jazz band to express his love of music and kept contact with Dom via FaceTime, practicing their sound while separated by thousands of miles.
An incredible coincidence then sowed the seed that was to become MCC.
Abi and Dom visited a dispensary in Brisbane after running out of ganja. They met Mystic there, as if it were scripted by Jah. One conversation, one shared love of reggae, one instant connection—that’s all it took. The energy was right. The timing was perfect. And just like that, the foundation for Mad Collective Connection was laid.
On stage, Abi holds the line, keeps it steady, and lets the music breathe. His bass isn’t just heard—it’s felt. The rhythm section moves as one, a natural chemistry that makes the music pulse with something real. No overplaying, no ego—just deep, steady grooves that allow the band to express themselves.
Abi has played music in more places than most will ever travel. But it’s here, with Mad Collective Connection, that everything finally locked into place.
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