What makes someone tick? Depends on the individual. In my case it is creating things, many of them musical. While my day job is all about ideas (and making them come to life), the nostatic existence is inextricably tied to music.
Here is the “just the facts” data:
- multi-instrumentalist: bass, guitar, dobro, keyboards, vocals, and some banjo
- award-winning composer (for Orbital Redux)
- read, have a great ear, a car that works, and I’m not a flake
- have gigged on and off for over 40 years, doing everything from solo singer/songwriter shows to small jazz ensembles to jazz big bands to musical theater pits to funk, soul, and rock shows.
- steeped in jazz, funk, soul, rock, folk, and most anything in-between
- playing out in front of people (no matter how many or how few) or in the studio – as long as there is music to be made I’m in
If it makes a difference, I have a phd in chemistry from Caltech. I also am an amateur extra-class radio operator (K6GS), photographer, filmmaker, perpetual tai chi student, ex-car and bicycle racer, motorcycle tourer, and seeker of the illusive green room. In the early 00’s I spent four years playing with Kaz Takeda, appearing on three albums and performing shows in LA and Japan. I was bassist and producer in Simpleflower, and since 2007 have played over a thousand shows in Southern California with a number of different bands. I’ve studied with Grammy-award winning bassist Victor Wooten, worked with Anthony Wellington on both bass and keyboard, and way back when, guitar and banjo with Walt Richards.
At the end of 2019 we escaped LA for Lompoc on the central coast just in time for the pandemic. While gigs went away, I went back into the studio, leading to an album a year (discography below). In 2021 live gigs came back (at least a fair chunk of them), and I played a lot of great shows over the last couple years including resurrecting my solo act (“yachtcoustic”) in 2022. In 2023, the gigs kept flowing, with a lot more solo shows, introducing the Acoustic Juke Box.
As 2024 rolls in, the woodshedding continues along with some possible new projects. Only so many hours on the planet, trying to make as much music in as many different ways as I can.
enjoy the ride – todd richmond
main discography
2024 – the lost years – nostatic solo (guitars, dobro, bass, keys, vocals, drum programming, writer, producer)
2023 – resonance matters – nostatic solo (dobro, acoustic and electric guitar, bass, banjo, vocals, producer)
2022 – like dissolves like – nostatic solo (bass, keyboards, writer, producer)
2019 – Deja Blue – Lefty and the Hatman (bass)
2017 – Dancer on the Road – Blue Noise Kitchen (bass, writer)
2016 – String Life Live – nostatic (bass, producer)
2014 – Time’s Up – nostatic (bass, guitar, keyboards, banjo, writer, producer)
2013 – Juliette – Kaz Takeda (bass)
2004 – SoCalSoul – Simpleflower (bass, producer)
2002 – The First Wave – Kaz Takeda (bass)
2001 – While My Guitar Gently Speaks – Kaz Takeda (bass)
1994 – Exothermic Jazz – Caltech Jazz Band (bass)
1988 – Blopuck Xmas – The Blopucks (guitar, keyboards, vocals, producer)
1983 – Eggcarton Demos – Nasty Habits (guitar, vocals)
1979 – Live at Randy’s – THC (guitar, vocals)
current tools
Rob Allen Mouse 30 fretless
Rob Allen Deep 4 fretless
Fodera Yin Yang Deluxe
Fender Player P-bass
Beard Radio R Squareneck Resonator
Williams SD-10 pedal steel
Collings 002 14 fret
Collings I-30 LC
Anderson Raven
Audio Kinesis H1203 and C1203T bass cabinets
Mesa WD-800 and D-800 bass heads
Top Hat Rialto Reverb
Henriksen Bud 10
EV Evolve 30M
Jam Pedals Harmonious Monk
FEA Labs dual-band comp
Dr. Scientist The Elements
Empress Compressor mk2
Diamond Memory Lane
Empress Para EQ mk2
Strymon El Capistan
Diamond Comp/EQ
Ibanez Mini Chorus
JHS Emperor mk2
Wampler Belle
Ditto Looper+
COG 66 Mini
TC Impulse
EHX 720
Apple Logic/Ableton Live on a MacBookPro
NI Komplete 13 w/S61 keyboard
RME Babyface Pro FS
Genelec 2:1 monitors
various mics/DIs