Welcome
Tom Richards is a conductor/arranger/composer/producer and saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist based in the UK. He has toured and recorded extensively with artists such as Raye, Blur, Take That, Tim Minchin, Hackney Colliery Band and Jamie Cullum, for whom he is also musical director. His recent arranging and conducting clients include Quincy Jones, Metropole Orkest (NL), Heritage Orchestra (UK) , WDR big band (DEU), BBC Symphony Orchestra (UK), BBC Concert Orchestra, Gary Barlow and Jamie Cullum. Tom is also an in demand studio musician, both as a woodwind specialist and conductor. He is currently Professor of jazz composition and arranging at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and visiting jazz lecturer at Oxford University.
Recent work
RAYE,
'My 21st Century Symphony'
Live @ Royal Albert Hall,
September 2023
Tom arranged, co-produced and conducted this recent live album for 6 time Brit award winning singer RAYE, backed by a 65 piece Heritage Orchestra and 30 piece choir. The gig itself received blanket 5 star reviews in all major press, and the live album was released in early Nov 2023. The film, directed by Paul Dugdale, is available on the BBC iPlayer until the end of 2025. Tom features on the album covert art.
MICHAEL BUBLE
'HIGHER'
Tom is delighted have both arranged and played saxophone on a handful of tracks from Michael Buble's recent Grammy award winning album, 'Higher' recorded at Abbey Road studios, London in April 2021. The album reached number 1 in the UK in April 2022. Check out the trailer video for 'A Nightingale Sang In Berklee Square' below.
JOE STILGOE
'THEATRE'
Tom recently produced, conducted, arranged and played on British singer/pianist Joe Stilgoe's recent release 'Theatre' in collaboration with Holland's Metropole Orkest, an incredible ensemble Tom has been lucky enough to work with since 2006. The album was recorded in Hilversum at metropole HQ and the album was launched at the Barbican in May 2022 with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Tom.
Tom co-produced, arranged, conducted and performed multiple instruments on Jamie's latest Island records release, "The Pianoman At Christmas" recorded at Abbey Road Studio 2 during the Summer of 2020. "TPAC" comprises 10 original Christmas songs and features some of the greatest big band and orchestral musicians in the UK.
https://londonjazznews.com/2020/12/03/jamie-cullum-the-pianoman-at-christmas/comment-page-1/
JAMIE CULLUM
'THE PIANOMAN AT CHRISTMAS'
GARY BARLOW
'MUSIC MADE BY HUMANS'
Tom arranged, conducted and played on 12 big band arrangements for this ambitious album which reached number 1 in the UK in December 2021.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS
Tom has so far released one record as a leader. "Smoke And Mirrors" on Candid records, showcases Tom's original compositions for 20 piece Jazz Orchestra and features many of the UK's most celebrated jazz musicians including Gwilym Simcock, Jim Hart and Gareth Lockrane. Jamie Cullum features on vocals on the title track.
"Exceptional by any standards" John Fordham, The Guardian, UK.