Quick Facts
Biography
Logan Richardson (born July 29, 1980, Kansas City, Missouri) is an alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. Richardson debuted as a bandleader with his 2007 album Cerebral Flow. He is also a member of the band NEXT Collective.
Childhood
Richardson grew up surrounded by the numerous LPs and 45s of his parents. He was constantly immersed in R&B, pop, rock, funk, soul, Motown, and gospel from an early age. His first musical memories include artists such as The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Prince (musician), Mahalia Jackson, Phil Collins, James Ingram, Hall & Oates, and Michael Jackson.
Early career
While attending Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, Richardson was exposed to jazz personalities who would have a profound impact on his future. Max Roach was the first jazz musician Richardson can remember seeing live. The American Jazz Museum brought Roach to Kansas City frequently in the mid 1990s as a clinician. Richardson also had the opportunity to perform with legendary Kansas City bandleader Jay McShann in the 1990s, in addition to studying with Kansas City Saxophone great, and educator Ahmad Alaadeen. In 1996 Richardson, while still in high school began leading his own groups in Kansas City.
Richardson performed with the Kansas City Symphony in concert February 27, 1997 at the age of 16, when he was invited by then conductor of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra Bill McGlaughlin, a performance that changed his life.
New York years
Moving to New York City in August 2001, Richardson witnessed the September 11th attacks first hand. He was enrolled at the New School University where he met, befriended, and performed with young musicians Frank Locrasto, Tommy Crane, Jamire Williams, Joe Sanders, Burniss Earl Travis, Dekel Bor, and Manuel Valera, and teachers Greg Tardy, Carl Allen, Joe Chambers, Billy Hart, and many others.
Since 2005, Richardson has led his own group, SHIFT. Featuring Richardson's soloing & compositions, as well as the creative and genre-bending playing of his compatriots, SHIFT attempts to answer the question, "Can there be new music in jazz?"
Richardson has also been a member of drummer Nasheet Waits (son of jazz drummer Freddie Waits) group Equality, a band that has played many top international festivals such as "North Sea Jazz Festival", and "Jazz Baltica" with pianists Jason Moran, Stanley Cowell, and bassist Tarus Mateen.
On February 27, 2009, Richardson was a member of the much-lauded Monk at Town Hall performance with Jason Moran & Big Bandwagon, culminating in the historic performance at Town Hall celebrating a reshaping of Monk's music by Moran.
Discography
As leader
- Cerebral Flow (Fresh Sound, 2007)
- Ethos (Inner Circle, 2008)
- Shift (Blue Note, 2015) (featuring Pat Metheny)
As sideman
- The Outlaw (2005), Joe Chambers
- Steps of Faith (2006), Greg Tardy
- Prelude... to Cora (2008) Ambrose Akinmusire
- Equality (2009), Nasheet Waits
- Sixty-Eight, (SteepleChase, 2011), Billy Hart
- Dream Pursuit (2012), Tony Tixier
- Life Forum (2013), Gerald Clayton
- Cover Art (2013), NEXT Collective