Andy Bassford

Andy Bassford is a guitarist known primarily for his work in reggae, although he has recorded and performed in a wide variety of styles. Andy’s playing appears on nine Grammy nominated and three Grammy winning albums, as well as a platinum album with Rihanna, a #1 Jazz Radio album with Monty Alexander, and a #1 Billboard Folk Chart album with Natalie Merchant. His credits include over 250 albums and 2500 songs. In 2003, he was honored by the Jamaica Federation of Musicians for Outstanding Contributions to the Jamaican Music Industry. Andy also appears as guitarist and co-writer on the Grammy-winning Sting & Shaggy album “44/876.” Andy made his debut on Horace Andy's classic roots reggae album “In The Light” in 1977. At Horace’s urging, Andy went to Jamaica in 1980. He began playing sessions with Roots Radics almost immediately and then joined Lloyd Parks and We The People, at the beginning of 1981. Andy then performed or recorded with nearly every reggae artist of the era, most notably the legendary Dennis Brown until 1988. He then spent two decades with Toots and the Maytals, also touring with Yellowman and Super Cat. Andy was also house guitarist for the Studio One label from 1989 to 2004. Currently, Andy performs internationally with jazz great Monty Alexander’s Harlem-Kingston Express. He also performs locally with reggae bass legend Derrick Barnett and his own group. His first solo album “The Harder They Strum” was released on 4/20/18. He lives in the Bronx.