Spanish, African pop, Latin & home-grown music
An eight-piece band - to get your feet moving....
Shallow Roots are a Bristol-based band playing (mostly) dance music fusing Afro, Caribbean, Spanish, Latin and Western pop. The combination of horns and guitars make a great sound. The music is intimate and gentle yet also rhythmic and highly danceable, while the (mostly) self-penned lyrics have a political edge - an uplifting take on the wider world and a realistic look nearer home. The players are Rob Vasey (guitar, vocals), Jonathan Hyams (guitar, vocals), Romilly Gibbs (soprano sax), Jamie Darwen (tenor and soprano saxes), Carol Arnold (alto sax), Adam Coombs (bass) and Jeremy Arnold (drums and percussion). The amazing voice of Rosalind Moreno-Parra can be heard as principal vocalist on some of the songs. Shallow Roots gigs often feature guest players too - so do come and enjoy the party!
NEXT PUBLIC DATES
Friday 14th July 8pm 8pm BRISTOL HARBOUR FESTIVAL! You can't get nearer the Harbour!
Grain Barge
Mardyke Wharf, Hotwell Rd, Bristol BS8 4RU Admission FREE!
If you would be interested in Shallow Roots playing at your event, then please click here to get in touch.
Dreaming
Original by Shallow Roots
West African influenced political piece. Featuring Jonathan, Romilly and Jamie.
Move On
Original by Shallow Roots
Danceable ditty. Featuring Romilly and Jonathan.
Me Voy Ya
Original by Shallow Roots
East African inspired dance piece. Featuring Jonathan, Romilly and Jamie.
Freakin Typico
Original by Shallow Roots
Homage to times gone by. Featuring Romilly.
La Cubana
With Rosalind Moreno-Parra
Sourced from Provencal gypsies by Bristol cajonist Jaime Cantera and arranged by Shallow Roots.
Respect Yourself
Shallow Roots Original
Just as the title says...
Shallow Roots - the musicians
Jonathan Hyams
Guitar, vocals, trumpet
Jonathan
initially
formed
Shallow Roots as a duo with Rob Vasey shortly after settling in
Bristol in 2005. Jonathan has performed in and led many bands including The Afro
Dizzy Acts,
The Open Band, The Heartbeats and The Memos. He is the principal songwriter and
arranger.
Rob Vasey
Guitar,
vocals
Rob started Shallow
Roots together with Jonathan, from duo through trio, quintet, sextet and now 8-piece band. He provides
a rich
and percussive guitar
as the essential backbone of all the songs. Rob is very active on the Bristol music
scene
and plays in several bands and is also a promoter. His own band is Neureille. He is
a
long-serving
exponent of experimental post-punk and avant-garde song-writing.
Romilly Gibbs
Soprano
sax
Romilly plays the wonderful soaring
solos
that are so distinctive to Shallow Roots. She plays a key role in the horn arrangements.
She has been
in
several
Bristol bands including Meet Your Feet. She has been with Shallow
Roots almost from the start. She is a superb and very talented improviser.
Jamie Darwen
Tenor and soprano
saxes
Jamie plays both tenor
and
soprano
saxes and gives us that great gutsy sound with driving solos.
Carol Arnold
Alto
sax
Carol brings the lovely mellow sound of the alto sax to Shallow Roots.
She also plays in Mendip Swing Big Band, the Ambling Band, and
Magna Jazz. Loves the sax harmonies, and the wonderful Latin, Spanish, and African
rhythms of Shallow Roots.
Rosalind Moreno-Parra
Vocals
Rosalind's powerful and
beautiful voice expands the
character of
the
band’s sound. With her Spanish roots, she excels on many of our Spanish language
songs. She
loves Ladino and Spanish folk music and has her own band in Bristol.
Adam Coombs
Bass guitar
Adam joined the band in 2021. He
has had a lot to do with Shallow Roots since its beginning - he produced quite a number of our recordings.
Adam is a professional musician, composer and teacher - and a superb bassist!
Jeremy Arnold
Drums and percussion
Jeremy plays drums, congas and cajon. He has recently joined
Shallow Roots and is enjoying the opportunity. He is a highly experienced drummer
having played with various Bristol bands over the years -
punk, rock, funk, soul, and jazz.