Daily Inspiration: Meet James Richardson

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Richardson. They and their team shared their story with us below:

James Richardson is a jazz vocalist and arranger in Nashville, TN, celebrating his eighth year in Nashville.

James Richardson grew up in Milford, MI, a village west of Detroit. James began singing, playing, and arranging three-part harmonies and acoustic music in a folk and bluegrass trio with his twin brother, Shaun, and his cousin, Carmen. They were known as Cats and the Fiddler and entertained throughout the Midwest for nearly fifteen years.

As a teenager, James fell in love with Jazz and Vocal Music. Obtaining a bachelor’s in Jazz Studies at Western Michigan University, Richardson has immense experience as a multi-talented vocalist and arranger, having the opportunity to perform with notable artists Deborah Brown, Randy Brecker, Chico Pinheiro, and Ben Folds with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Moreover, his Jazz vocals and arrangements have been recognized by Downbeat Magazine in 2016 and 2017 and the Nashville Industry Music Awards (NIMA) in 2020. In 2019, James joined Nashville’s cutting-edge contemporary choral group, SONUS, featured alongside Audrey Assad and Dave Barnes at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Renowned British composer and producer Jacob Collier has lauded James’s arrangement as “inventive and agile” and American voice actor and vocalist Gabe Kunda as “fresh ear candy.” These are just a few of the musicians who have noticed his unique ear for his adventurous vocal arrangements.

In 2023, James Richardson released his first project titled Daydreams, a blend of Jazz and Americana, collaborating with some of Nashville’s finest session players and one of the most invigorating moments of James’ creative journey.

EAR MILK Magazine beautifully sums up the project: “Showcasing a powerful combination of honest storytelling and complex melodies, the project comes to life as a varied collection of songs weaving through curious jazz to reimagined pop bolstered by rich vocals layered over passionate melodies.”

Richardson is poised to become one of Nashville’s in-demand young musicians and arrangers who New York Voices founder Peter Eldridge describes as “one of those rare people who has it all going on – talent beyond measure, a uniquely compelling vocal sound, [and] an openness and creativity weaving through his singing and songwriting.”

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not always been smooth, but I’ve been so fortunate to have family and friends who have been my rock, consistently a source of encouragement and inspiration. I’ve also had the opportunity to collaborate with incredible musicians in Nashville who have shared a wealth of wisdom for which I am incredibly grateful.

At the beginning of the Daydreams project, I battled with being impulsive and impatient.

Then, through the year-and-a-half process of producing Daydreams, I finally had an experience where I learned the finished product is so much more satisfying the longer it takes, knowing all of the hurdles and roadblocks you’ve had to surpass in order to get there.

It’s okay to take that extra week to book the player you know is going to get the sound you’re looking for. It’s okay to take that extra week to let the arrangement sit and revisit, giving even better ideas time to flow. It’s okay to recut a song because the arrangement you’ve started with is no longer serving you.

Self-producing a project can be challenging as well financially, and that is another area where being patient is healing. Realize there’s so much passion and value in the journey itself and so much daily joy to be had in continuously chipping away at goals.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a tenor vocalist (corporate events, live BGVs, session work) in a wide variety of styles (i.e., jazz, pop, a cappella, country). For live work, I sing and play bass and piano as well.

I offer a wide variety of services in arranging music (i.e., cappella music, horn arrangements, string arrangements, jazz, pop). I transcribe music as well and can create charts for sessions and live performances of any recording.

I am an MD and lead rehearsals for a caroling company. The Yuletide Carolers of Nashville. I love the rehearsal process and building a show, so I would love to explore other avenues to work in this capacity.

I am currently arranging and producing a show with a 10-piece band called Music City Without Borders. My incredible friend and colleague, Kristian Dambrino, and I will be singing Jazz, Pop, and Broadway, supporting the mission of the Nashville International Center for Empowerment Benefitting Refugees in Middle Tennessee. The show is on May 18th at City Winery Nashville, and I am so excited for you to hear the music! There are incredible musicians involved and such an important cause. The link to buy tickets is below.

musiccity.swell.gives

Alright, before we go, can you talk to us about how people can work, collaborate, or support you?
I would love to co-write with other artists in a wide variety of styles and help build my catalog as a songwriter and arranger.

I often need vocalists and players for demo recordings of arrangements and for live work, too, so I would love to continue to build more relationships with other musicians in town. I often resonate with musicians who both have a great ear, and specialize in sight-reading music as well.

Please email me at [email protected] and introduce yourself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.songsbyjames.com
• Instagram: @jamesrichardsonmusic
• Facebook: @jamesrichardsonmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrichardsonmusic/
• Twitter: @songsbyjames
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/jamesrichardsonmusic
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jamesrichardsonmusic

Image Credits
Patryk Larney, Jeremy Ryan Photography, and Jeremy Cowart