Julian Colbeck
Encyclopedia
The current CEO of Keyfax NewMedia, Julian Colbeck is a former professional keyboard player of over 25 years, author of several music-related books and guides, the creator of Twiddly.Bits
MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs and websites. He has played/collaborated with Greep, The New Seekers
, Charlie
, John Miles
, Yes
offshoot Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
, and Genesis
guitarist Steve Hackett
. He also worked as a session player on numerous recordings, including the debut Vitamin Z
album, produced by Alan Parsons
, with whom he would later collaborate on the 2009 DVD set, Alan Parsons' The Art & Science of Sound Recording.
His business specialties include: Analysis of the music technology industry, past, present, future, and MIDI recording. His goal has always been to preserve, champion, and enhance the music experience in all music technology endeavors.
in Bath.
He began playing piano at age 8 when his parents purchased a 1910Broadwood upright piano
, on which he composed more or less everything he has ever written. He still owns it to this day.
Julian later attended Inchbald School of Design 1970-1971
with the band ‘Greep’. After releasing a number of singles, the group disbanded and Julian found himself working in fringe theater, London’s Albany Theatre, Deptford.
The New Seekers
needed a keyboard player and Julian landed the gig, playing many live concerts and TV shows in UK and Europe including the group’s famed Drury Lane concert in 1974. During this time he met their lighting director, who coincidentally was also the manager for a band called ‘Charlie.’
Hired initially as a session player for the recording of the group’s No Second Chance album at Trident Studios
, London, he was subsequently asked to join the band as a full time member.
Charlie
Julian was called upon to replace the Charlie
keyboard player Martin Smith and began what would be almost 5 years of constant touring and music making. He co-produced 3 Charlie
albums: Lines, Fight Dirty, and Here Comes Trouble.
He left the band in 1980 amid turmoil. He writes "Finally, the touring band line-up of Terry Thomas, John Anderson, Eugene Organ, Steve Gadd, and myself ceased operations once Arista
refused to release Here Comes Trouble, and our caring, sharing management company immediately cut off all our money in 1980. That's a whole other story but, for the record, our final gig was in 1979 at the Civic Center in Providence, RI
on Monday 29 October, alongside Foreigner
"
After Charlie
, Julian moved to Los Angeles, worked a bit with The Doors
’ Robby Krieger
, almost broke into film music (“the industry was just not quite ready for synthesizers at the time”), and was the Musical Director for ‘Captain Crash vs The Zzorg Women, Chapters 5 &6,’ written by Steve Hammond, Dave Pierce, and Rick Jones. Nearly starving, Julian was saved when he was picked up by a band named Tropical Madness, the name “sums up that particular experience”.
Moving back to UK in 1982 Julian undertook several tours of the UK and Europe with British pop star John Miles
.
ABWH
In 1989, Julian joined YES
super group 'Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe’
and played every date during 1989-1990. He also appeared on two albums “Symphonic Music of Yes
” and “Live at Mountain View,” the latter also released as the DVD An Evening of Yes Music Plus
.
He also appeared on “Watching the Flags,” a Jon Anderson
solo record on which he played and co-wrote extensively. He also recorded with Steve Howe
and Bill Bruford
on a number of solo projects.
Steve Hackett
Earlier in 1989, Julian began what would become a long-term association with Genesis'
Steve Hackett
, appearing on a live-recorded TV show that would become the album and DVD Time Lapse. Over the next seven years he appeared on 10 or more Steve Hackett
albums and countless North and South American tours.
In 1996, whilst on stage with Genesis'
Steve Hackett
and Chester Thompson along with Asia
/King Crimson
’s John Wetton
and Ian McDonald
, Julian had a cathartic moment. “I looked around stage and saw a bunch of old men, including (if not especially) me”. He made a conscious decision and determined to “get the hell out” of performing onstage and never has yet to return. He continues to hold a firm belief that live rock ‘n’ roll music is a young man’s game.
Back to Bach
In 1991, released a solo album ‘Back to Bach,’ [EG/Virgin
] collaborating with concert pianist Jonathan Cohen, plus Steve Hackett
, Milton McDonald
, John Keeble
, Mary Hopkin
, and celebrated Irish poet Brian Keenan.
Studio Album – credits
Julian Colbeck - Discography
Singles
Albums
Sounds, Sound On Sound
, Music Technology, Keyboard Player, Keyboard, Music Week, Making Music, Electronic Musician
, and The Frankfurt Daily.
He subsequently published several keyboard buyers guides, a Frank Zappa
biography, music related and even assisted his then brother-in-law Raymond Blanc
, with a cookbook. Here is a list of publications:
, the company since developed into a multifaceted business offering music technology distribution and support (DVDs/Websites), MIDI
samples, Steinberg
music software , and is also the exclusive distributor for the revolutionary Yamaha Tenori-On
.
“My role as CEO is divided between providing our creative direction and ensuring that this direction is both invigorating for those who work here and economically sustainable for the company.” “It beats rock 'n' roll
only in that I get to spend way less time at Denny's.” – Julian Colbeck
Twiddly.Bits
When Julian was asked to review some particularly dismal standard MIDI song files, he realized that there were no MIDI samples available on the market that actually sounded good. He then enlisted help from programmer Dave Spiers to create Twiddly.Bits
MIDI samples in 1993. Today there are over 20 Twiddly.Bits
MIDI sample libraries available, all generated by professional musicians playing MIDI instruments.
PhatBoy
As he was delving into the MIDI scene, he again filled a vacant niche by creating the design concept for the first MIDI performance controller, called affectionately, PhatBoy.
Yamaha Connection
Yamaha approached Julian to create content library for the Yamaha RM1x
. Its success led to preliminary work on the Yamaha Motif
Keyboard (including content licensing). For the next several years (and counting) Yamaha would time and time again approach Julian and Keyfax to create content, instructional videos/DVDs and websites for their products.
DVDs/Videos
Julian has been the driving creative force behind several music-related DVDs and videos, often taking on dual roles of director and script writer, including:
Twiddly bits
Twiddly Bits is an English slang term. From the word twiddly ; curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative...
MIDI loops, the concept designer for the PhatBoy MIDI controller, and producer of several music technology DVDs and websites. He has played/collaborated with Greep, The New Seekers
The New Seekers
The New Seekers are a British-based pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences...
, Charlie
Charlie (band)
Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
, John Miles
John Miles (musician)
John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
offshoot Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe was a project of four progressive rock musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe . They had played together in Yes in the early 1970s...
, and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
guitarist Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
. He also worked as a session player on numerous recordings, including the debut Vitamin Z
Vitamin Z
Vitamin Z were an English pop group, formed in 1982 by vocalist Geoff Barradale and bassist Nick Lockwood. Their lone hit "Burning Flame" charted well in the UK, but no further hits caught on. Geoff Barradale now serves as manager for the Arctic Monkeys....
album, produced by Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons
Alan Parsons is a British audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including The Beatles' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor...
, with whom he would later collaborate on the 2009 DVD set, Alan Parsons' The Art & Science of Sound Recording.
His business specialties include: Analysis of the music technology industry, past, present, future, and MIDI recording. His goal has always been to preserve, champion, and enhance the music experience in all music technology endeavors.
Early life
Born in 1952 in Aldershot, Julian began boarding school in Malvern, later attending Monkton Combe SchoolMonkton Combe School
Monkton Combe School is an independent boarding and day school of the British public school tradition, near Bath, England. The Senior School is located in the village of Monkton Combe, while the Prep School, Pre-Prep and Nursery are in Combe Down on the southern outskirts of Bath...
in Bath.
He began playing piano at age 8 when his parents purchased a 1910Broadwood upright piano
Broadwood and Sons
Broadwood and Sons is an English piano manufacturer, founded in 1728 by Burkat Shudi and continued after his death in 1773 by John Broadwood.- Early history :...
, on which he composed more or less everything he has ever written. He still owns it to this day.
Julian later attended Inchbald School of Design 1970-1971
Music/Bands
In 1973 after a brief stint in college, and a spell in the left-wing rock choir Co-operation, Julian was fortunate enough to sign a record deal with Charisma RecordsCharisma Records
Charisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
with the band ‘Greep’. After releasing a number of singles, the group disbanded and Julian found himself working in fringe theater, London’s Albany Theatre, Deptford.
The New Seekers
The New Seekers
The New Seekers are a British-based pop group, formed in 1969 by Keith Potger after the break-up of his group, The Seekers. The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences...
needed a keyboard player and Julian landed the gig, playing many live concerts and TV shows in UK and Europe including the group’s famed Drury Lane concert in 1974. During this time he met their lighting director, who coincidentally was also the manager for a band called ‘Charlie.’
Charlie (band)
Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Hired initially as a session player for the recording of the group’s No Second Chance album at Trident Studios
Trident Studios
Trident Studios was a British recording facility, originally located at 17 St. Anne's Court in London's Soho district. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield a drummer of former 1960's group The Hunters and his Brother Barry....
, London, he was subsequently asked to join the band as a full time member.
Charlie
Julian was called upon to replace the Charlie
Charlie (band)
Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
keyboard player Martin Smith and began what would be almost 5 years of constant touring and music making. He co-produced 3 Charlie
Charlie (band)
Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
albums: Lines, Fight Dirty, and Here Comes Trouble.
He left the band in 1980 amid turmoil. He writes "Finally, the touring band line-up of Terry Thomas, John Anderson, Eugene Organ, Steve Gadd, and myself ceased operations once Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
refused to release Here Comes Trouble, and our caring, sharing management company immediately cut off all our money in 1980. That's a whole other story but, for the record, our final gig was in 1979 at the Civic Center in Providence, RI
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
on Monday 29 October, alongside Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
"
After Charlie
Charlie (band)
Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
, Julian moved to Los Angeles, worked a bit with The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
’ Robby Krieger
Robby Krieger
Robert Alan "Robby" Krieger is an American rock guitarist and songwriter. He was the guitarist in The Doors, and wrote some of the band's best known songs, including "Light My Fire," "Love Me Two Times," "Touch Me," and "Love Her Madly."...
, almost broke into film music (“the industry was just not quite ready for synthesizers at the time”), and was the Musical Director for ‘Captain Crash vs The Zzorg Women, Chapters 5 &6,’ written by Steve Hammond, Dave Pierce, and Rick Jones. Nearly starving, Julian was saved when he was picked up by a band named Tropical Madness, the name “sums up that particular experience”.
Moving back to UK in 1982 Julian undertook several tours of the UK and Europe with British pop star John Miles
John Miles (musician)
John Miles is an English rock music vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player, best known for his 1976 Top 3 UK hit single, "Music".-Career:...
.
ABWH
In 1989, Julian joined YES
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
super group 'Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe’
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe
Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe was a project of four progressive rock musicians, vocalist Jon Anderson, drummer Bill Bruford, keyboardist Rick Wakeman, and guitarist Steve Howe . They had played together in Yes in the early 1970s...
and played every date during 1989-1990. He also appeared on two albums “Symphonic Music of Yes
Symphonic Music of Yes
Symphonic Music of Yes was a 1993 orchestral album covering songs of the progressive rock band Yes. The arrangements were by Dee Palmer . Playing on the album were two then-former Yes members, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Bill Bruford...
” and “Live at Mountain View,” the latter also released as the DVD An Evening of Yes Music Plus
An Evening of Yes Music Plus
An Evening of Yes Music Plus is a live album by the English progressive rock side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Released on October 12, 1993, it was recorded at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on September 9, 1989....
.
He also appeared on “Watching the Flags,” a Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson
Jon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
solo record on which he played and co-wrote extensively. He also recorded with Steve Howe
Steve Howe (guitarist)
Stephen James "Steve" Howe is an English guitarist, known for his work with the progressive rock group Yes...
and Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
on a number of solo projects.
Steve Hackett
Earlier in 1989, Julian began what would become a long-term association with Genesis'
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, appearing on a live-recorded TV show that would become the album and DVD Time Lapse. Over the next seven years he appeared on 10 or more Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
albums and countless North and South American tours.
In 1996, whilst on stage with Genesis'
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
and Chester Thompson along with Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
/King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
’s John Wetton
John Wetton
John Kenneth Wetton is an English bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, singer and songwriter. He was born in Willington, Derbyshire, and grew up in Bournemouth. He has been a professional musician since the late 1960s...
and Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald (musician)
Ian McDonald is an English multi-instrumental musician, best known as a founding member of progressive rock group King Crimson, formed in 1969, and of the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976. He is well-known as a rock session musician, predominantly as a saxophonist...
, Julian had a cathartic moment. “I looked around stage and saw a bunch of old men, including (if not especially) me”. He made a conscious decision and determined to “get the hell out” of performing onstage and never has yet to return. He continues to hold a firm belief that live rock ‘n’ roll music is a young man’s game.
Back to Bach
In 1991, released a solo album ‘Back to Bach,’ [EG/Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
] collaborating with concert pianist Jonathan Cohen, plus Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett
Stephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, Milton McDonald
Milton McDonald
Mike "Milton" McDonald is a session guitarist. He has played with Patricia Kaas, Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe, The Spice Girls, S Club 7, Ray Davies, Take That, Robert Palmer, M People, Louise, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Atomic Kitten, Hear'Say, Mylène Farmer, and Girls Aloud.McDonald also played...
, John Keeble
John Keeble
John Keeble is a British pop musician, who is the drummer with the 1980s band, Spandau Ballet.Spandau Ballet disbanded in 1990, after their final studio album, Heart Like a Sky, failed to live up to the critical and commercial success of their earlier albums, such as True and Parade.In 1999, John...
, Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin
Mary Hopkin , credited on some recordings as Mary Visconti, is a Welsh folk singer best known for her 1968 UK number one single "Those Were The Days". She was one of the first musicians to sign to The Beatles' Apple label....
, and celebrated Irish poet Brian Keenan.
Studio Album – credits
Julian Colbeck - Discography
Singles
- Greep Gemini (1974) (CharismaCharisma RecordsCharisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
) - Greep Mr Sympathy (1975) (CharismaCharisma RecordsCharisma was a record label founded by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith in 1969. Manager for The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der Graaf Generator at the time, Stratton-Smith was unable to find a record company willing to release an album by one of his favourite groups so he founded his own...
) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
– multiple (1977–80)
Albums
- CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
No Second Chance (1977) (Janus / PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Lines (1978) (Janus / PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Fight Dirty (1979) (AristaArista RecordsArista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Here Comes Trouble (1981) (PolydorPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
) - Sean Delaney Highway (1980) (CBS)
- Vitamin ZVitamin ZVitamin Z were an English pop group, formed in 1982 by vocalist Geoff Barradale and bassist Nick Lockwood. Their lone hit "Burning Flame" charted well in the UK, but no further hits caught on. Geoff Barradale now serves as manager for the Arctic Monkeys....
Vitamin Z (1985) (Phonogram) - Rime Of The Ancient Sampler (1992) (VoicePrintVoiceprint RecordsVoiceprint Records is a company and record label based in England, founded in 1990 by Rob Ayling. They specialise in re-releasing old material, especially progressive rock, but also have new releases, all under the Voiceprint and other imprints....
) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
Time Lapse (1992) (Kudos) - YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
Symphonic Music of YesSymphonic Music of YesSymphonic Music of Yes was a 1993 orchestral album covering songs of the progressive rock band Yes. The arrangements were by Dee Palmer . Playing on the album were two then-former Yes members, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Bill Bruford...
(1993) (BMG) - YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
An Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music PlusAn Evening of Yes Music Plus is a live album by the English progressive rock side project Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe . Released on October 12, 1993, it was recorded at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California on September 9, 1989....
(1994) - Julian Colbeck Back To Bach (1994) (EG/VirginVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
Guitar NoirGuitar NoirGuitar Noir is the tenth album by Steve Hackett, released in 1993. On this record, he started turning to a much darker guitar sound, yet still retaining the fluidity he has become known for.-Track listing :...
(1996) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
Blues with a Feeling (1995) (Kudos) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Fight Dirty/Good Morning America (1996) (Renaissance) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
& Julian Colbeck There Are Many Sides To The Night (1997) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
Watcher of the Skies: Genesis... (1997) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
& Friends The Tokyo Tapes (1999) - Steve HackettSteve HackettStephen Richard Hackett is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. He gained prominence as a member of the British progressive rock group Genesis, which he joined in 1970 and left in 1977 to pursue a solo career...
, Darktown (2001) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Charlie Anthology (Renaissance) (2006) - Jon AndersonJon AndersonJon Anderson is an English singer-songwriter and musician best known as the former lead vocalist in the progressive rock band Yes...
Watching The Flags That Fly (VoicePrint 2007) - CharlieCharlie (band)Charlie was a British rock band that was formed in 1971 by singer/songwriter Terry Thomas. The group was most active as a recording unit from the mid-1970s through 1986...
Kitchens Of Distinction (VoicePrint) 2009
Writing
In the late 1970s Julian started writing for numerous English Language MI and Pro Audio magazines (as well as some French, German and Japanese) including:Sounds, Sound On Sound
Sound on Sound
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals...
, Music Technology, Keyboard Player, Keyboard, Music Week, Making Music, Electronic Musician
Electronic Musician
Electronic Musician is a monthly magazine published by Penton Media featuring articles on synthesizers, music production and electronic musicians....
, and The Frankfurt Daily.
He subsequently published several keyboard buyers guides, a Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
biography, music related and even assisted his then brother-in-law Raymond Blanc
Raymond Blanc
Raymond Blanc OBE is a French chef, born in Besançon, France. Today he is one of the Britain's most respected chefs. Blanc is the owner and chef at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a hotel-restaurant in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England. The restaurant has two Michelin stars and scored 9/10 in the...
, with a cookbook. Here is a list of publications:
- Keyfax, A Buyers Guide To Electronic Keyboards (Virgin)
- Keyfax 2 (Virgin)
- Keyfax 3 (Music Maker Publications)
- Keyfax 4 (Music Maker Publications)
- Keyfax 5 (Music Maker Publications)
- Keyfax Omnibus Edition (Mix Books)
- How To Make A Hit Record (Anaya)
- RockSchool 2 (BBC Publications)
- Rock Talk (WH Allen)
- ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
- A Biography (WH Allen) - What MIDI (Music Maker Publications)
- Recipes From Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons (with Raymond BlancRaymond BlancRaymond Blanc OBE is a French chef, born in Besançon, France. Today he is one of the Britain's most respected chefs. Blanc is the owner and chef at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a hotel-restaurant in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England. The restaurant has two Michelin stars and scored 9/10 in the...
) (Macdonald / Orbis)
Keyfax
Keyfax Software was founded in 1993, taking its name from Julian’s Keyboard and synthesizer guides. Initially created to market the original concept of ‘MIDI Samples’ under the name Twiddly.BitsTwiddly bits
Twiddly Bits is an English slang term. From the word twiddly ; curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative...
, the company since developed into a multifaceted business offering music technology distribution and support (DVDs/Websites), MIDI
Twiddly bits
Twiddly Bits is an English slang term. From the word twiddly ; curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative...
samples, Steinberg
Steinberg
Steinberg GmbH is a German musical software and equipment company based in Hamburg. It mainly produces music recording, arranging and editing software as used in digital audio workstations and VSTi software synthesizers.- History :...
music software , and is also the exclusive distributor for the revolutionary Yamaha Tenori-On
Tenori-on
Tenori-on is an electronic musical instrument, designed and created by Japanese artist Toshio Iwai and Yu Nishibori of the Music and Human Interface Group, Yamaha Center for Advanced Sound Technology. It consists of a screen, held in the hands, of a sixteen by sixteen grid of LED switches, any of...
.
“My role as CEO is divided between providing our creative direction and ensuring that this direction is both invigorating for those who work here and economically sustainable for the company.” “It beats rock 'n' roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
only in that I get to spend way less time at Denny's.” – Julian Colbeck
Twiddly.Bits
When Julian was asked to review some particularly dismal standard MIDI song files, he realized that there were no MIDI samples available on the market that actually sounded good. He then enlisted help from programmer Dave Spiers to create Twiddly.Bits
Twiddly bits
Twiddly Bits is an English slang term. From the word twiddly ; curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative...
MIDI samples in 1993. Today there are over 20 Twiddly.Bits
Twiddly bits
Twiddly Bits is an English slang term. From the word twiddly ; curly or decorative, esp. in an unnecessary way and bit; a small piece or amount of something , a twiddly bit is anything that is relatively small and trifling or elaborately decorative...
MIDI sample libraries available, all generated by professional musicians playing MIDI instruments.
PhatBoy
As he was delving into the MIDI scene, he again filled a vacant niche by creating the design concept for the first MIDI performance controller, called affectionately, PhatBoy.
Yamaha Connection
Yamaha approached Julian to create content library for the Yamaha RM1x
Yamaha RM1x
The Yamaha RM1x is a groovebox manufactured by Yamaha from 1999 to 2002. It integrates several, commonly separate, pieces of music composition and performance hardware into a single unit: a step-programmable drum machine, a synthesizer, a music sequencer, and a control surface.The front panel of...
. Its success led to preliminary work on the Yamaha Motif
Yamaha Motif
The Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
Keyboard (including content licensing). For the next several years (and counting) Yamaha would time and time again approach Julian and Keyfax to create content, instructional videos/DVDs and websites for their products.
DVDs/Videos
Julian has been the driving creative force behind several music-related DVDs and videos, often taking on dual roles of director and script writer, including:
- Analogue Heaven
- Getting the Most Out Of Series (Korg M1Korg M1The Korg M1 is the world's first widely-known music workstation. Its onboard MIDI sequencer and palette of sounds allowed musicians to produce complete professional arrangements...
, and Home Recording Vols 1,2,3) - Get Motifated Series, For the Yamaha MotifYamaha MotifThe Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
Classic & Yamaha MotifYamaha MotifThe Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
ES, Volumes 1, 2 & 3) (Winning a Videographers award) - The O1xperience (a guide for the Yamaha O1x mixer/interface)
- Exploring Sound Reinforcement (How-to on live sound set up)
- The Complete Guide to the Motif ESYamaha MotifThe Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
- S90 Under Control (Yamaha S90S90 (Yamaha)The Yamaha Music Synthesizer S90 is a synthesizer and a MIDI controller in one unit, released in 2002 to supersede the S80. . As such, it is part of the S series together with the S03 and S08. It was superseded by the S90ES in 2005, itself superseded by the S90XS in 2009. It is notably one of the...
Master Class) - Go Mo (Yamaha MOYamaha MOThe Yamaha MO6/MO8 is a professional level music production synthesizer that comes in two sizes. The MO6 is the 61-key while the MO8 is the 88 weighted key version...
6/8 Keyboard) - World of Motif XSYamaha MotifThe Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
- Motif XSYamaha MotifThe Yamaha Motif is a series of music workstations, first released by Yamaha Corporation in August 2001. Other workstations in the same class are the Korg Triton, Roland Fantom-G and Alesis Fusion.-Motif Classic:...
Master Class - Making Beats on the Yamaha MM6Yamaha MM6The Yamaha MM6 is a Mid-Range synthesizer manufactured by the Yamaha Corporation, and was first introduced in January 2007. The MM6 includes fairly high quality samples for the price of the keyboard, however it is still a professional level piece of equipment. The default samples that ship on board...
(Top honors at 2008 Aurora Awards in Art / Culture Instructions) - Using CubaseSteinberg CubaseCubase is a music software product developed by Steinberg for music recording, arranging and editing as part of a Digital Audio Workstation. It is one of the oldest DAWs to still enjoy widespread use...
4 Recording the Band - Sound Advice (with host sound programmer Dave Polich)
- Alan ParsonsAlan ParsonsAlan Parsons is a British audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including The Beatles' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor...
Live in Madrid - Drum Programming Secrets
- Alan ParsonsAlan ParsonsAlan Parsons is a British audio engineer, musician, and record producer. He was involved with the production of several significant albums, including The Beatles' Abbey Road and Let It Be, as well as Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon for which Pink Floyd credit him as an important contributor...
’ Art and Science of Sound Recording (2010)