REVIEW: Richards hits mark with musical magic

The Landmark Theater brought in world-class arranger and
VCU Jazz Studies founder Doug Richards Saturday for an evening
of jazz none will soon forget.

A packed crowd was in attendance to witness Richards’ sparseyet-
inspirational appearance as conductor for the evening.

Richards brought together on one stage the Richmond Symphony,
the Richmond Children’s Choir and Richards’ own jazz orchestra,
the Great American Music Ensemble.

Featuring some of the most solid jazz musicians ever to grace
Richmond, the 15-piece ensemble dominated Saturday evening
with impeccable expression and masterful interpretation of the
swinging charts.

Musical heavies sharing the title of “Most Burning Solo” included
Rex Richardson and John D’earth on trumpet, Luis Hernandez on
tenor saxophone and Harold Summey on drums.

Embellishing the harmonies beautifully throughout the evening
were the string players of the Richmond Symphony. They lent their
expertise to Richards’ exquisite palette of sound with either stunning
or subtle results, especially in Ann Ronell’s lush “Willow Weep for
Me” and Duke Ellington’s foreboding shuffle, “Night Creature.”

The conductor’s creativity also shone through in Vernon Duke’s
“April in Paris.” Richards’ arrangement encompassed several French
melodies, including the “Can-Can” and Claude Debussy’s “Prélude