About Me
Soulful Sax Player with experience in many areas and styles.As a freelancer, Richard has been privileged to have worked with many talented and diverse people, nurturing and gaining experience in a variety of musical genres, . . . . . all of which combine to identify his unmistakeably distinctive style, sound and all round capability as a performer.
From a classical background as a pianist, singer and clarinettist, he was a member of ‘THE BRITISH YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’ on saxophone and bass clarinet. 3 years studying at Leeds College of Music also added flute and some drum lessons, which lead on to an interest in playing percussion and gaining work doubling saxes with percussion.
This became a bit of a trademark, ultimately enabling a world tour with WESTLIFE in 2004 (including a live DVD) and VANESSA MAE in the following years. Other highlights include playing with AMY WINEHOUSE on 'Later with JOOLS HOLLAND' TV Show and various tours of Europe, New Zealand, Japan, America, Africa, India and China, freelancing with regular touring shows including, more recently, the MATTHEW HERBERT BIG BAND, and performed at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club with DAME SHIRLEY BASSEY. . . also working corporately for Richard Branson on his VIRGIN brands.
He can be seen as a regular dep in the West End productions of 'DIRTY DANCING' and 'HAIRSPRAY', and has spent much of the last 20 years touring and working in UK theatres doing 'one nighters' with bands and shows, including 'THE WILDCATS' with Rock'n'Roll legend, MARTY WILDE (11 years), 'TRIBUTE TO THE CARPENTERS' (8 years) and the 'CHICAGO BLUES BROTHERS' (9 years) . . . Also, THE COMMITMENTS with Dave Finnegan and was Musical Arranger and Musical Director of a stimulating show celebrating the music of MARVIN GAYE.
The early career included numerous ongoing 'NORTHERN SOUL' tours featuring 'cult' singers, mostly from America, and this training was instrumental in shaping his style & approach, which lead on to tours with various artists such as THE DRIFTERS and it’s legendary singer, BEN E. KING, also MARTHA REEVES & The VANDELLAS, GEORGE McRAE, JIMMY RUFFIN and others which include THE FOUR TOPS, THE TEMPTATIONS, SISTER SLEDGE, KIM WESTON and Marvins’ brother FRANKIE GAYE, and has performed with KIM WILDE and most recently ROSE ROYCE.Always in demand as a session musician, these include bookings for various Big Band recordings, ‘Pop’ saxophone sessions, and also solo classical clarinet with string orchestra on the 2007 and 2008 programmes for RICK STEINS BBC TV Series, and also the saxes on the national advertising campaign for the 'VIRGIN BIG TRAIN' TV Ads for example. He has been featured on many recordings over the years and produced his own album 'UNDER THE ORANGE TREE' in 1996 . . . . . It's now time for another one? . . . . Watch this space!!He co-runs the brass section, 'THE RED HORNZ' www.redhornz.co.uk with Dave Land and Ian Richards and they have been contracted for many jobs, including the West-End, Broadway transfer of Billy Joel’s Musical 'MOVIN OUT'.
Here, Richard played the lead sax chair including percussion and occasional dual lead vocal with the main singer, and was reviewed by the British Theatre Guide: - "The musical stars of the show are undoubtedly Richard Pardy who plays a mean saxophone and Dennis DelGaudio, the musical director and guitarist".http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/movin
out-rev.htm . . . . . . .Collaborating with many colleagues, we provide horn sections of any size and combination, and are regularly booked on both gigs and sessions having performed on assignments in Cuba, Japan, Grenada, France, Dubai, UK, Europe, Nairobi and the Bahamas working for well known bands and corporate clients. The Red Hornz have recently completed the writing/arranging and recording of brass charts on an exciting new album project with HELENA JESSIE, which will be released in due course . . . Look out for it!Also, as a writer and arranger, Richard collaborates with long time friend and fellow musician, ED POOLE, creating, between them, a collection of distinctive tracks, mainly for film/TV and advertising, utilising their varied skills.Richard can be contacted for work on 07768146200.
