Highly respected musician Richard Ansell excels in the piano styles of Blues, Boogie-Woogie and Jump Jive. A regular circuit musician Richard plays with Blues Academy, and Blues Abuse.

Richard also has a very successful solo career, ranging from the provision of classical piano, jazz standards and singalongs. In addition, he also has a successful pop duo, Rags2Riches covering styles ranging from Frank Sinatra through Jerry Lee Lewis to the sixties, Robbie Williams, the Scissor Sisters and beyond. - the ideal band for your function. Visit the website here.

Richard's extensive musical knowledge and classical background brings elegance and subtlety to many of the Blues Abuse arrangements. The combination of melodic improvisation and jazz voicings rides brilliantly alongside Steve's earthy delta blues feel. The style in which they convey their passion for the music has the band's boogie, rock & roll and jump-jive numbers thundering along like trains.

With his degree in music from Goldsmiths' College, London , Richard not only performs but also has been Musical Director of (and played piano for) many stage musicals including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Sweet Charity, South Pacific, Singing in the Rain, Little Shop of Horrors and Return to the Forbidden Planet. For Blackfish Academy for the Arts in Dover he has been MD for the Rocky Panto and Scrooge. Most recently in 2009, he has played keyboards for the Marlowe Theatre pantomime in Canterbury, Peter Pan starring Ade Edmondson.

Let me explain how I met Richard. I was originally taught the rudiments of the boogie woogie piano by my uncle. He gave up the piano, but a few years ago decided to take it up again and wanted to find a teacher. He found Richard and could not sing his praises highly enough to me. He explained one of the best things about Richard was that he was prepared to teach music by ear as well as writing it down. This is a very unusual gift in music teaching. From my uncle’s recommendation, I engaged Richard to teach my teenage son who has severe dyslexia. Despite this, Richard has succeeded in teaching him the theory of music and stimulated his fascination which I hope will stay with him for the rest of his life. Richard is always punctual, good-humoured and encouraging. I can sincerely say that I have not met a more inspirational, or helpful, music teacher than Richard.

Jools Holland.

Myself a stranger to the jazz circuit, I approached Richard Ansell as an unknown name; a music teacher who came across on paper as the right person to teach the piano to one of my daughters.  Since the beginning of the year [2007], his teaching has already worked its magic.  As a result, I have seen a quite remarkable rate of progress, increased interest and sheer enjoyment of a wide variety of music.
      As a teacher Richard is reliable, well-mannered, good fun and inspirational.  He has a gentle and encouraging way of furthering achievements and seems somehow to instil self-motivation.
      In terms of performing: I heard tracks on the website and had to make sure there was only one pianist.  I went to catch a live performance and still can’t quite work out how two hands can make that sound.  He is a first-rate performer and teacher; truly a rare breed.

Cath Jobbins