How the fuck does the bass?  I know it's providing harmonic info and the groovy sounds, but does it have to? I figure you'd say no but like what are the official bass rules?
the only way to really find out, in your case, is to just remove it and see what happens (or does not happen). see if you're still ok without it. but then to figure out how it really works, you'll have to do it yourself for a little while, like actually putting it in songs, for the same purpose as the ones you listen to for listening purposes of course