Jonathan Richards is a Los Angeles-based bassist, composer, and educator known for his versatility across a wide range of musical styles. Raised in a musical family, he was exposed to diverse genres from an early age, shaping his ability to collaborate with artists across the musical spectrum. His career has led him to perform alongside esteemed musicians such as Joe LaBarbera, David Foster, Khalid, Patti LaBelle, Alan Pasqua, Snuffy Walden, and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.

As a sought-after studio musician, Jonathan has recorded on albums and soundtracks for artists including Beyoncé, Kris Bowers, Laufey, Nnenna Freelon, Jacob Mann, and Sara Niemetz. His television performance credits include Demi Lovato’s Holiday Special, Katharine McPhee’s PBS Soundstage, The Academy Awards, and The American Music Awards.

With a strong foundation in classical music, Jonathan has performed with regional orchestras throughout Southern California. In 2022, he was a guest performer on Wild Up’s Grammy-nominated album Julius Eastman Vol. 3: If You’re So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich? Most recently, in 2024, he served as the bassist for the Pasadena Playhouse productions of Jelly’s Last Jam and La Cage Aux Folles.

As a composer, Jonathan continues to write for his own ensembles and various creative projects. In 2022, he was commissioned by the Seattle Symphony to compose a new work for Hocket, an LA-based piano duo. The piece, Resilience, premiered at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, with encore performances in Los Angeles and New York City. In 2023, he received a commission from Oxy Arts to compose Dark Illumination, a musical work accompanying the visual art of Kenturah Davis.

Jonathan is a graduate of the USC Thornton School of Music and holds a master’s degree from CalArts. He has studied privately with John Clayton, Nico Abondolo, David Allen Moore, Darek Oles, Steve Lehman, and Larry Koonse. In 2018, he joined the faculty of Pasadena City College, and in 2021, he was appointed Jazz Director at Occidental College.