Browsing Frank Burt’s professional profile shows the veteran bassist working with some of dancehall/reggae’s top artistes. After 36 years as a backing musician, he finally released his first project as a producer.

The Spyda Web Riddim, a compilation album, was released in November by Spyda Muzik LLC, a company he operates with his wife, Kim Yamaguchi-Burt.

It contains 10 songs by veteran artistes such as A J Brown (‘Living in The Now’), Delly Ranx (‘Miss You’) and Determine (‘Complication’) as well as Zimbabwean singer Rickie Perplex (‘Out of Time’) and Pressure (‘My Light’) from the United States Virgin Islands.

Burt told OBSERVER OONLINE that he stuck to a tried and proven method for his debut production.

“I thought of keeping the original reggae formula and go for an ear-friendly melody.

“We weren’t truly looking for a distinct response from our listeners. If we were, it was more appreciation for our production and something that would keep people dancing, happy and in a mellow mood,” he said.

Helping Burt achieve that sound were fellow veterans Stephen “Lenky” Marsden and Bowie Mclaughlin on keyboards, guitarist Mitchum Chin and drummer Kirk Bennett.

Born in Port Antonio, the self-taught Burt has played bass since 1986. Pointing to Robbie Shakespeare, Jaco Pastorius and Stanley Clarke as his biggest influences, he has worked extensively with Buju Banton, playing on the singjay’s Inner Heights and Before Dawn albums.

He has also toured with Etana, Richie Spice and Ky-Mani Marley.