Johnny Richards - Mosaic Select 17 [2005] (3 X CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ

JOHNNY RICHARDS

Johnny Richards - Mosaic Select 17 [2005] (3 X CDs)

Johnny Richards was one of the great architects of mid‑century jazz orchestration, a composer‑arranger who treated big‑band writing as a canvas for drama, colour and rhythmic invention. Mosaic Select 17 gathers six albums recorded between 1955 and 1966, revealing a musician whose imagination stretched far beyond the swing tradition. These sessions show Richards blending classical tension, Latin rhythm, film‑score atmosphere and bold brass writing into a language entirely his own.

The first disc pairs the chamber‑like Annotations of the Muses with the explosive Wide Range. The contrast is striking: one built on subtle textures and narrative flow, the other on full‑band power and sharp rhythmic drive. Richards’ orchestrations move easily between delicacy and force, always shaped by his instinct for dramatic pacing.

The second disc dives into his Afro‑Cuban explorations. Experiments in Sound and The Rites of Diablo push big‑band writing into ritualistic territory, using percussion, chant‑like motifs and dense harmonies to create music that feels both grounded and otherworldly. These sessions show how naturally Richards integrated Latin rhythmic structures without losing the complexity of his jazz writing.

The final disc presents two unexpected turns: a bold reimagining of My Fair Lady and a lighter, melodic Latin‑infused project. Both reveal how flexible Richards’ voice had become by the mid‑sixties, capable of reshaping familiar material or crafting new moods with ease.

Across all three discs, the set highlights Richards’ command of large ensembles and his ability to fuse rhythm, colour and structure into something unmistakably his. For collectors, it’s a rare, complete view of a composer who expanded big‑band jazz into orchestral territory few others attempted. For listeners, it’s a reminder that Johnny Richards was not just an arranger, he was a visionary builder of sound. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Johnny Richards - Annotations of The Muses Pt.1 8:52

02 Johnny Richards - Annotations of The Muses Pt.2 7:09

03 Johnny Richards - Annotations of The Muses Pt.3 6:23

04 Johnny Richards - Nipigon 4:31

05 Johnny Richards - So Beats My Heart for You 1:53

06 Johnny Richards - Walkin' 2:58

07 Johnny Richards - Nina Never Knew 3:04

08 Johnny Richards - The Ballad of Tappan Zee 5:06

09 Johnny Richards - Cimarron 6:08

10 Johnny Richards - Stockholm Sweetnin' 2:46

11 Johnny Richards - Close Your Eyes 2:07

12 Johnny Richards - The Nearness of You 3:03

13 Johnny Richards - Young at Heart 2:27

14 Johnny Richards - Walkin'(binaural tk) 2:58

15 Johnny Richards - Cimarron (binaural tk) 3:01

CD2

01 Johnny Richards - Omo ado 4:23

02 Johnny Richards - What is There to Say 2:21

03 Johnny Richards - Estoy Cansado 3:20

04 Johnny Richards - Theme From The Concerto to End All Concertos 4:34

05 Johnny Richards - How Are Things in Glocca Morra 2:15

06 Johnny Richards - Terpischore 4:40

07 Johnny Richards - Je Vous Adore 3:15

08 Johnny Richards - Neolore 3:08

09 Johnny Richards - This Time 3:19

10 Johnny Richards - No Moon at All 3:01

11 Johnny Richards - Omo Ado (tk 2) 6:07

12 Johnny Richards - Kele Kele 4:21

13 Johnny Richards - La Pecador 7:43

14 Johnny Richards - Ochun 4:31

15 Johnny Richards - Oluo Anu 5:30

CD3

01 Johnny Richards - Get Me to The Church on Time 3:57

02 Johnny Richards - On The Street Where You Live 3:55

03 Johnny Richards - I Could Have Danced All Night 3:09

04 Johnny Richards - Wouldn't it Be Loverly 3:47

05 Johnny Richards - Show Me 3:48

06 Johnny Richards - The Rain in Spain 4:09

07 Johnny Richards - I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face 3:16

08 Johnny Richards - With A Little Bit of Luck 3:23

09 Johnny Richards - Viva Gordo 2:39

10 Johnny Richards - Nada Mas 3:33

11 Johnny Richards - El Sombrero De Metal 4:15

12 Johnny Richards - Plata De Azul 3:37

13 Johnny Richards - Manzanita 4:29

14 Johnny Richards - Imprevu 2:47

15 Johnny Richards - Chapultepec 4:05

16 Johnny Richards - Me Voy 3:11

17 Johnny Richards - Pulque 4:30

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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