Hugh Richardson

Session Bassist, Arranger

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8 Reviews (4 Verified)
Hugh Richardson on SoundBetter

I'm a bass player, arranger and composer currently living in London. During my career I have; played support slots for The Hoosiers, The Doobie Brothers, recorded at Metropolis Studios, performed with musicians such as Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Marc Russo (Tower of Power), Marin Alsop, Chuck Sabo (Elton John), Lara Johnston and Ana Free.

If you are interested in having me record bass or write an arrangement for your music then contact me via soundbetter.com. We will begin to talk about what your music needs and once we agree on a direction, I'll ask you to send me some audio files for me to record to. Once I have recorded my parts I'll send you a private link to your song with my parts mixed in. If you're happy with the result I'll send you an invoice and once I have received payment, I'll release the audio files to you. We can work on your music no matter where you are in the world. You don't even have to hire a studio or leave your home!

For bass recordings, I can either send them to you with no processing or add some compression and EQ if you would like me to.

I'd love to hear about your project. Click the 'Contact' button above to get in touch.

8 Reviews - 2 Repeat Clients

Endorse Hugh Richardson
  1. Review by Fred M.
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    Hugh is definitely THE Bassplayer and his patience and concern should be the corner stone reference for all musicians and producers !
    It is always a pleasure to work with Hugh and if you need a great musician call Hugh and you will have satisfaction.

  2. Review by Fred M.
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    PEOPLE !!! Here he is a great bass player.
    Quick, precise, clear, correct. A gentleman.
    Enjoyed !!!

  3. Review by Aron M.
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    Very quick and professional sounding!

  4. Review by Bernard Z.
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    Hugh is a very professional bass player,and definitely I'll work with him again,fantastic!

  5. Review by Matt Saunders
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    Fantastic player. Great ear, really accommodating, great sound and always easy to deal with. Have been using him as a session player for years and will do for years to come.

  6. Review by Cc
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    by Cc

    Great steady bass player with a lot of knowledge and flair. Super pro and the easiest to communicate with!!

  7. Review by Chuck Sabo
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    by Chuck Sabo

    Hugh has a great feel, & great time! He gets the job done quickly, & is a nice guy to work with!

  8. Review by Jay Stapley, guitars & mixing
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    A fine player, easy to work with and imaginative. Recommended.

Interview with Hugh Richardson

  1. Q: What are you working on at the moment?

  2. A: I've been recording bass for a Chinese Producer named Bernard and I've been writing string arrangements for folk duo "The Black Feathers" new album which is due for release later in 2015.

  3. Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

  4. A: Chuck Sabo the drummer is excellent. I've worked with him on gigs and he was the drummer on some recent recording projects I've been on. A great professional, an excellent musician and he has a wealth of recording experience to draw on.

  5. Q: Analog or digital and why?

  6. A: It really depends on the project. Analog can sounder warmer and fatter but I don't like assuming that a warm, fat sound is always the best thing for every project.

  7. Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

  8. A: That they will be happy with the results :)

  9. Q: What do you like most about your job?

  10. A: I love that each song I work on is different. I always find it so rewarding to deliver what a client wants in a song because it often makes me think of things I wouldn't on my own. Work like this is constantly new and engaging.

  11. Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

  12. A: How long does it take to record

  13. Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

  14. A: That online/remote session work is done in a rush or low quality.

  15. Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

  16. A: I always ask to hear the music I'm working so I can really understand what I'm working with. I always try and ask clients if they have any reference tracks or specific sounds they are trying to achieve in their music.

  17. Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

  18. A: Don't do things cheaply and don't get too attached to your demo. Book quality musicians and trust them when they make suggestions and produce parts for you. It may cost a little more upfront but the benefits greatly outweigh the initial cost.

  19. Q: How would you describe your style?

  20. A: Groove, dynamic, creative and melodic bass playing

  21. Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

  22. A: Alison Krauss. She has such an incredible voice and she's always put out great, dynamic and musically sensitive songs. It would be such a pleasure to hear myself as a part of one of those recordings.

  23. Q: Can you share one music production tip?

  24. A: I don't like being over reliant on plugins. If I can get the right sound from the start, maybe by spending time to get a specific tone, trying different microphones or using different DI's, then I feel much happier because, right from the start, I know I'm working with something that's right for the song rather than trying to shoe horn a sound into a song that doesn't suit it.

  25. Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

  26. A: As a bass player I specialise in R&B, Soul, Pop, Rock, Groove and Funk music. I also have experience performing and recording Jazz, Film and Orchestral Music. As a string arranger I specialise in Acoustic, Folk, Rock, Indie and Soul acts. I have also arranged horns for tall these styles of music. However, I can also written for Funk and Jazz acts.

  27. Q: What's your strongest skill?

  28. A: Creativity and fitting into the arrangement of a song. I love playing parts that serve the song!

  29. Q: What do you bring to a song?

  30. A: Groove, an appreciation for the music and a great sound.

  31. Q: What's your typical work process?

  32. A: The first thing I do is talk to the client and try to see the song from their perspective. I like to ask about what they are hearing in a bass track, what they are trying to convey in their music because, as a session musician, my goal is to help others realise their musical visions. Once I have a good idea of what the client wants I'll spend some time intensely listening to the song so I can really absorb it. This helps me record a much more natural and authentic performance. Next is to record the bass parts (or arrange the strings and horns depending on which of my services you have used) and then send everything back to the client.

  33. Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

  34. A: I have several basses including active, passive and fretless models that I use to record. I use an A-Designs REDDI (valve and tube DI) and I also am able to have my signal re-amped if you prefer a mic'd sound but, in the past, I have found that clients usually prefer to do this themselves. Most of the time I end up sending a signal from the REDDI but I also have high quality Aguilar equipment for recording bass which I can use. I have an apogee duet interface.

  35. Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

  36. A: I have a huge amount of respect for studio musicians ranging from Pino Palladino, Alison Krauss, Steve Gadd and so many more. I love the sound of musicians who listen to each other and it's always such a thrill for me to be part of a recording project that allows me to listen, engage with the song and try to do what's best for the music.

  37. Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

  38. A: I do a lot of work in the rock, pop, soul, RnB, funk and jazz genres but I have also spent time playing world music, working with orchestras and performing and recording with large ensembles for film, theatre and television.

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Session Portfolio

I was the bass player in this production

Terms Of Service

I can offer a 48 hour turnaround for bass tracks and 3-6 days for arrangements depending on the complexity of the track. For bass tracks I offer up to 3 revisions and for arrangements up to 4.

Gear Highlights
  • A-Designs REDDI (Tube DI Box)
  • Sadowsky MV5 Bass
  • Ibanez Fretless Gary Willis Model
  • Aguilar AG500 Amplification
  • Vanderkley Cabinets
  • Apogee Interface
  • Logic Pro 9
  • Logic Pro X
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