Richard Todd In-depth Biography
Not to be confused with the Dublin-born actor of the same name, Richard Todd} is a versatile French horn player who can handle straight-ahead acoustic jazz} as well as pop}, rock} and European classical}. Todd}, who lives in the Los Angeles area, is far from a jazz} snob; in addition to playing with classical} orchestras (including the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra} and the Santa Barbara Symphony}), he has done countless pop/rock} sessions. Nonetheless, the sound that Todd} brings to his instrument owes a lot to straight-ahead acoustic jazz}; specifically, jazz}'s cool} school.
Known for being extremely lyrical and having a soft, mellow, caressing tone, Todd} has been greatly influenced by cool} school favorites like Stan Getz}, Miles Davis}, Chet Baker}, and Gerry Mulligan}. In fact, one could easily argue that Todd} is to the French horn what Davis} and Baker} are to the trumpet; Bill Watrous} is to the trombone; Lee Konitz} and Paul Desmond} are to the alto sax; and Lester Young}-influenced players like Getz}, Zoot Sims}, and Paul Quinichette} are to the tenor sax. If Watrous} is "the Stan Getz} of the trombone," Todd} is arguably the Stan Getz} of the French horn; an instrument that, historically, has not played a prominent role in jazz}. Over the years, jazz} has had some talented French horn players here and there, and they have ranged from Sweden's Hakan Nyquist} to Sharon Freeman}, John Graas}, Tom Varner}, and the great Julius Watkins} (who has been called the "Charlie Parker} of the French horn"). Nonetheless, the French horn has not been nearly as prominent in jazz} as the saxophone or the trumpet; for that matter, it isn't as common a jazz} instrument as the often neglected trombone.
Todd} has also been heavily influenced by third stream}, a style of jazz} that incorporates elements of European classical} and chamber music. The French horn virtuoso is obviously well aware of third stream} heavyweights like the Modern Jazz Quartet} and arranger Gunther Schuller}, who Todd} has collaborated with on more than one occasion. But for someone who can be such an appealing jazz} improviser, Todd} has devoted a great deal of time to non-jazz} pursuits. The L.A. resident became a very in-demand session player in the '80s, when he backed pop} stars who ranged from Barbra Streisand}, Kenny Rogers}, and Madonna} to Latin} icon Julio Iglesias}. And in the '90s, the non-jazz} artists who employed Todd} on their albums included, among others, Bette Midler}, Michael Bolton}, Sheena Easton}, and Barry Manilow}. Todd} was also employed on albums by various jazz} artists in the '90s, including Billy Childs}, David Benoit}, and Shirley Horn}. The early 2000s found Todd} signing with RCM}, which released his melodic straight-ahead jazz} album, With a Twist}, in June 2002. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide