My recent trip to Sonoma County involved very little imbibing of the local grape; rather on the evening of July 18, 2015, I enjoyed my first time performing at the magnificent Green Center Weill Hall. The audience was treated to the mellifluous, crooning voice of actor Kevin Spacey! Being a true showman, Kevin impressed the crowd with moving renditions of jazz standards and entertained with stories, humorous banter and excellent celebrity impressions.

I can be seen on violin – 1st row, 3rd in …

It was good to work with my old Hollywood friends René Mandel & Mark Robertson:

(ok, OK … I had a little wine!)

In 2014, Richard’s song Bidwell’s Path was designated a Finalist / Instrumental Music Category in the UK Songwriting Contest.  Now in 2015, 3 of his songs are considered Semi-Finalists: Chicxulub: Dinosaur Musings on the Meaning of Life, Warrior’s Hymn &  Losing Love.

Faerie’s Embrace‘  status is still pending in the Open Category. Stay tuned for updates as the contest tightens!

My song Faerie’s Embrace just made #1 on Broadjam’s Top 10 Celtic List!  Also hits #2 song on Top World & #6 on Top California lists…

   It was a pleasure for me to have worked with Chris King, scoring his amazing, historical short film about “The Killing of Mary Surratt”, portions of which are to be aired on the History Channel’s upcoming 4-part documentary on “The Civil War: In Color”. Congratulations Chris and Heather King!

Chris King, Director:
“We’re very happy and proud to be a provider of film footage of the Lincoln assassination conspirators from our short film “The Killing of Mary Surratt” for a special 4-part documentary called “The Civil War: In Color.” The doc will be broadcast on The History Channel and a multitude of other formats.”

TRAILER

Just finished (last week) working on a new cartoon short based on the characters from Frozen.  I was featured as orchestral violinist.  A funny sentimental story, a Birthday Cake and several magical sneezes – what more can you ask for?

2014 was the first year that featured a full symphonic orchestra performing 15-minute musical tributes to all 5 oscar-nominated movie scores, with the composers themselves conducting! (including John Williams & Alexander Desplat)

Also, each of the year’s nominated songs was performed, most often by the original artists.  In the photo below, the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Robert Lopez & Kristen Anderson-Lopez offer their passionate version of their huge hit Let It Go! from the movie, Frozen.  I can be seen behind Kristen to the right:

Best score went deservedly to Steven Price’s soundtrack to Gravity…

In late November 2014, I was at Sony studios (old MGM) recording a film scored by Danny Elfman. I signed a Non-Disclosure, so let’s just say it was sultry, atmospheric music to a picture based on a highly popular book whose title certainly does not feature “many hues of black and white” ! No truth to the rumor that the Marquis de Sade produced…

One day while working on this feature, all computers at Sony had been hacked and shut down! Evidently, the digital assault was tied to the intended Christmas Day release of The Interview, the comedy about an attempt to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. North Korea had threatened Sony that it would be launching an attack, in this case a cyber one. Below is a photo of 1 of the 4 helicopters that hovered over the studio for hours!

(close up:)             

Halloween 2014, Richard performs “The Music of Tim Burton & Danny Elfman” at the great Nokia Theater in LA and the Honda Stadium in OC! Danny and Catherine O’Hara performed songs from “Nightmare before Christmas” – they were great!

(Two Maestros! Conductor John Mauceri  in discussion with Danny Elfman before our first rehearsal)

As Principal 2nd Violin, I was featured with some Solos and received some Solo Bows…
What fantastic, and fantastical music! Danny Elfman is a wonderful inspiration for any musician or composer. Check out this YouTube link from last year’s performance…I can be seen playing just behind Danny:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQH2fs4tWY

Friday, October 17

Here is a view from behind the onstage scrim – strings backing up rapper great Childish Gambino at the Greek Theatre UC Berkeley.
It was a full string section: four 1st violins, four 2nd’s, four violas, four cellos and one harp. The violin parts were well-written, melodic and gratifying to play. String harmonies were beautiful, often haunting and dissonant…