Presenting a wide range of original material, Grant Richards’s 2014 album, Numinous, combines straight ahead jazz with instrumental hip hop and world grooves for a diverse and head-bobbing listening experience. The culmination of several years of writing and planning, the project is rooted in the traditions of jazz but points to the future with deep-seated grooves and infectious melodies that appeal both to the average listener and the seasoned jazz lover. Complete with a selection from the Stevie Wonder songbook and a beat from the popular 90s hip-hop group, Black Star, Numinous goes well beyond the boundaries of a traditional jazz album with eclectic sound aimed at a broader audience. The core rhythm section features Grant Richards on piano, Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere on bass, and Charles Burchell on drums, each accomplished performers in their own right with budding careers in the jazz world.

Jaime Woods – vocals (track 3)

Dayna Stephens – tenor sax (tracks 2,11,12)

Edmar Colón – tenor sax (tracks 1,6,9), soprano sax (track 10)

Rafael “Ruffus” Aguiar – alto sax (tracks 5,6,7,9,10)

Aaron Bahr – trumpet (track 10)

Farnell Newton – trumpet (track 3)

Quinn Carson – trombone (track 10)

Ron Reid – steelpans (track 13)

Asher Kurtz – guitar

Grant Richards – piano and keyboards

Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere – acoustic bass

Charles Burchell – drums

Artwork & Album Design – Nadia Westcott

Photography – Hannah Cohen

Recording Engineer – Peter Kontrimas

Mixing & Mastering – Scott Bergstrom

Additional Recording – Randy Porter and Ryan Short

Recorded August 25-28 2014 at PBS Studios (Westwood, MA)