Colin Richardson is a Santa Barbara native multi instrumentalist and vocalist who covers the great American song book with an emphasis for bossa nova classics and inspirations from Afro-Cuban/Rumba rhythms.
Colin’s unique tone comes from vocal inspirations from Nat King Cole, Chet Baker and Ella Fitzgerald ; Guitarist inspirations like Wes Montgomery and Luis Bonfa; Saxophonist inspirations such as Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Charlie Parker and Lester Young.
Performances by Colin include intimate guitar medleys that blend into nostalgic vocal ballads building into dynamic and playful saxophone solos.
Colin’s music is a reflection of his various ecologically founded interests such as rescuing endangered honey bees, trimming and caring for fruit trees and brewing compost teas. “Spending time restoring Santa Barbara’s ecosystem and educating those who live here provides me with the inspiration to express an optimism for the future in uncertain times; a sentiment to the history of jazz which is in itself a history of America.