The Creative Music series at Motivo LA focuses on artists who value listening as a fundamental part of their creative process, presenting music that transcends the boundaries of genre. Utilizing the warm and intimate space, artists and audience come together, building a community that is founded on artistic substance, sincere connection, and meaningful creation.
With the audience encircling the artists in the center of the space, the series is open to all ages.
Jonathan Richards - bass
band tbd
Tickets:
Doors: 7:45pm
Opening Act: 8:00pm
Show (two sets): 8:30 - 11:00pm
Two sets. Open seating.
General admission: $30.00 pre-sale | $35.00 at the door
Student Price: $15.00
Limited parking on site on first come, first serve basis. Additional parking spaces available on Casitas Ave and Minneapolis St. Lots of street parking, safe and walkable neighborhood!
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 ClaytonHamilton 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 Grammynominated 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.