Showing posts with label Andrew Colyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrew Colyer. Show all posts

1/18/2019

Keyboard Veteran Andrew Colyer To Tour With 3.2 featuring Robert Berry!


88 Keys, but Only 1 Player to Cover Emerson, Wakeman, Rudess, & Banks!

Keyboard veteran Andrew Colyer has secured possibly one of the most difficult gigs today – covering keyboard parts made legendary by Keith Emerson, Rick Wakeman, Jordan Rudess and Tony Banks! Andrew will be performing with 3.2 featuring Robert Berry this coming spring! If anyone is qualified for the position, it's Andrew who has performed and collaborated with the likes of Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), Jon Anderson (YES), The Tubes, Sound of Contact featuring Simon Collins, Ryche Chlanda (Fireballet, Renaissance), Max Flyer (CBS Records), Clark Terry, Louis Bellson among others....not to mention his own band, Prog-award-nominated Circuline!

Keith Emerson left a legacy of music. From his beginnings with The Nice in the 1960's, to worldwide fame with Emerson Lake & Palmer in the 1970's, to his reinvention in the 1980's with the #9 Billboard hit “Talkin' Bout” in the band “3” with Robert Berry and Carl Palmer, Emerson's name is one almost everyone has heard of.

In 2015, Emerson reunited with Berry, to resume work on the second “3” album, titled “3.2”, to be released on the Frontiers label. In 2016, Emerson tragically took his own life, leaving behind a half-finished record, Robert Berry with the loss of his long-time personal and musical friend, an unfulfilled contract, and a world grieving.

By the spring of 2018, Berry had worked out the details with the Emerson estate and Frontiers to complete and release the record. The first single, “Somebody's Watching” (released May 22nd), sent the album debut to #3 on the Amazon hard rock charts, and generated 7,000 YouTube views in the first 36 hours, and over 12,000 views in the first week. A musical phoenix had indeed risen.

The album, “3.2 - The Rules Have Changed”, was released on August 10th, 2018, and hit #1 on Amazon, selling out on the first day, and placed on two Billboard charts. The two YouTube videos from the album currently have over 64,000 cumulative views. The new album has met with unanimous positive international acclaim from over 100 magazine articles, blog and website reviews, and FM and internet radio stations.

Now it's time for a tour. The band - “3.2 featuring Robert Berry” will not only cover Berry's work with Keith Emerson, but also Berry's years on the Magna Carta label, producing tribute albums to ELP, YES, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Rush. Who will Robert Berry get to cover not only Keith Emerson, but also all the keyboard players from these legendary bands? The world is watching and wondering. Keyboardist/vocalist Andrew Colyer (Circuline, Cell15, Awaken, Prog Rock Orchestra) got the call.



Berry tells the story of how Colyer got the gig: “When I met Andrew in December 2011, he was trying to reignite a career in music, after being out of the game for over 20 years. After one of our December People 'Classic Rock Christmas Party' shows, I introduced him to Dave Medd, and that's how he got the job as the backup for The Tubes in 2012. By 2013 he was playing ELP's “Tarkus” in progressive rock tribute band Downing Grey. In 2014 he performed on the Moody Blues cruise and the YES Cruise to the Edge with the Prog Rock Orchestra. He also formed his own band, Circuline, which has released two studio albums, a live CD/DVD/Blu-ray, and has toured and performed at international festivals. Plus he's my wife's brother's best friend!”

Berry says, ”All family joking aside, Andrew is a great player and the right guy for the job. He's a super nice guy, a hard worker, and with his immersion in the music business for these past 7 years, he's also been a big help in the business and marketing department.”

Colyer has some big boots to fill, and speaks to the naysayers. “I know there will be critics and fans who will say, 'that's not how Keith would have done it', or, 'he's just not the same as Wakeman, Banks, or Rudess', and I'm here to say, that's exactly right and true. There was only one Keith Emerson, and he was one of the greatest rock keyboard players of all time. Keith was groundbreaking in his approach to playing and performing; he was the first person in the world to ever use a synthesizer on stage; it is physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually impossible for anyone to ever replace him, or any of these other amazing keyboard players that I'm covering for the upcoming tour.”

“I am honored to have been asked to 'fill in' for Keith, Rick, Jordan, and Tony in their absence, and I will do my very best to faithfully serve the music that all of these great keyboard players throughout history have left for us to enjoy. All of my classical training, as well as my jazz and progressive rock experience, will be crucial in bringing this music to a live audience.”

Colyer continues, “I am also really excited to be performing with Robert Berry, who, besides being a ridiculously talented musician/composer, touring with Ambrosia, Alliance, Greg Kihn, and the holiday band December People, has also been a 'behind the scenes' producer for years, producing many progressive rock tribute albums for the Magna Carta label, and releasing his own solo albums. Some people have referred to Robert as a 'crafty American version of Trevor Rabin'.”

Berry concludes, “This new 3.2 band is excited to not only have Andrew Colyer from Circuline, but also the amazing drummer/vocalist Jimmy Keegan from Spock's Beard. I'll be fronting the band on bass and lead vocals, and we also have monster guitarist/vocalist Paul Keller, who toured with Keith, myself, and Carl Palmer on the original '3' tour in 1988. For the upcoming tour, we'll be performing not only music from the new 3.2 album, but also music from the first 3 album, and a few hits from my back Magna Carta catalog - some songs from YES, ELP, Genesis, Jethro Tull, etc.

“In addition to all the great music, you'll also experience first storytelling, performances, and insights from my work with Steve Howe, GTR, Ambrosia, Keith and Carl, and more. It's a presentation of my legacy of progressive rock from the past 30 years. We hope to see you in the audience and meet you in person after the show!”

For more information:
Website:  http://www.ColyerMusic.com
Artist Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ColyerMusicOfficial/
Personal Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ColyerMusic
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/colyermusic
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ColyerMusic
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/andrewcolyermusic 

Purchasing:
CDBaby:  https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/AndrewColyer
Bandcamp:  https://andrewcolyer.bandcamp.com/
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Time-Andrew-Colyer/dp/B07K1NG6X9/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/andrew-colyer/988935849

Videos
http://colyermusic.com/video/cinematic-rock/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Keyboard Veteran Andrew Colyer To Tour With 3.2 featuring Robert Berry!


88 Keys, but Only 1 Player to Cover Emerson, Wakeman, Rudess, & Banks!

Keyboard veteran Andrew Colyer has secured possibly one of the most difficult gigs today – covering keyboard parts made legendary by Keith EmersonRick WakemanJordan Rudess and Tony Banks! Andrew will be performing with 3.2 featuring Robert Berry this coming spring! If anyone is qualified for the position, it's Andrew who has performed and collaborated with the likes of Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), Jon Anderson (YES), The TubesSound of Contact featuring Simon CollinsRyche Chlanda (Fireballet, Renaissance), Max Flyer (CBS Records), Clark TerryLouis Bellson among others....not to mention his own band, Prog-award-nominated Circuline!

Keith Emerson left a legacy of music. From his beginnings with The Nice in the 1960's, to worldwide fame with Emerson Lake & Palmer in the 1970's, to his reinvention in the 1980's with the #9 Billboard hit “Talkin' Bout” in the band “3” with Robert Berry and Carl Palmer, Emerson's name is one almost everyone has heard of.

In 2015, Emerson reunited with Berry, to resume work on the second “3” album, titled “3.2”, to be released on the Frontiers label. In 2016, Emerson tragically took his own life, leaving behind a half-finished record, Robert Berry with the loss of his long-time personal and musical friend, an unfulfilled contract, and a world grieving.

By the spring of 2018, Berry had worked out the details with the Emerson estate and Frontiers to complete and release the record. The first single, “Somebody's Watching” (released May 22nd), sent the album debut to #3 on the Amazon hard rock charts, and generated 7,000 YouTube views in the first 36 hours, and over 12,000 views in the first week. A musical phoenix had indeed risen.

The album, “3.2 - The Rules Have Changed”, was released on August 10th, 2018, and hit #1 on Amazon, selling out on the first day, and placed on two Billboard charts. The two YouTube videos from the album currently have over 64,000 cumulative views. The new album has met with unanimous positive international acclaim from over 100 magazine articles, blog and website reviews, and FM and internet radio stations.

Now it's time for a tour. The band - “3.2 featuring Robert Berry” will not only cover Berry's work with Keith Emerson, but also Berry's years on the Magna Carta label, producing tribute albums to ELPYESGenesisJethro TullPink Floyd, and Rush. Who will Robert Berry get to cover not only Keith Emerson, but also all the keyboard players from these legendary bands? The world is watching and wondering. Keyboardist/vocalist Andrew Colyer (CirculineCell15AwakenProg Rock Orchestra) got the call.



Berry tells the story of how Colyer got the gig: “When I met Andrew in December 2011, he was trying to reignite a career in music, after being out of the game for over 20 years. After one of our December People 'Classic Rock Christmas Party' shows, I introduced him to Dave Medd, and that's how he got the job as the backup for The Tubes in 2012. By 2013 he was playing ELP's “Tarkus” in progressive rock tribute band Downing Grey. In 2014 he performed on the Moody Blues cruise and the YES Cruise to the Edge with the Prog Rock Orchestra. He also formed his own band, Circuline, which has released two studio albums, a live CD/DVD/Blu-ray, and has toured and performed at international festivals. Plus he's my wife's brother's best friend!”

Berry says, ”All family joking aside, Andrew is a great player and the right guy for the job. He's a super nice guy, a hard worker, and with his immersion in the music business for these past 7 years, he's also been a big help in the business and marketing department.”

Colyer has some big boots to fill, and speaks to the naysayers. “I know there will be critics and fans who will say, 'that's not how Keith would have done it', or, 'he's just not the same as Wakeman, Banks, or Rudess', and I'm here to say, that's exactly right and true. There was only one Keith Emerson, and he was one of the greatest rock keyboard players of all time. Keith was groundbreaking in his approach to playing and performing; he was the first person in the world to ever use a synthesizer on stage; it is physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually impossible for anyone to ever replace him, or any of these other amazing keyboard players that I'm covering for the upcoming tour.”

“I am honored to have been asked to 'fill in' for Keith, Rick, Jordan, and Tony in their absence, and I will do my very best to faithfully serve the music that all of these great keyboard players throughout history have left for us to enjoy. All of my classical training, as well as my jazz and progressive rock experience, will be crucial in bringing this music to a live audience.”

Colyer continues, “I am also really excited to be performing with Robert Berry, who, besides being a ridiculously talented musician/composer, touring with AmbrosiaAllianceGreg Kihn, and the holiday band December People, has also been a 'behind the scenes' producer for years, producing many progressive rock tribute albums for the Magna Carta label, and releasing his own solo albums. Some people have referred to Robert as a 'crafty American version of Trevor Rabin'.”

Berry concludes, “This new 3.2 band is excited to not only have Andrew Colyer from Circuline, but also the amazing drummer/vocalist Jimmy Keegan from Spock's Beard. I'll be fronting the band on bass and lead vocals, and we also have monster guitarist/vocalist Paul Keller, who toured with Keith, myself, and Carl Palmer on the original '3' tour in 1988. For the upcoming tour, we'll be performing not only music from the new 3.2 album, but also music from the first 3 album, and a few hits from my back Magna Carta catalog - some songs from YESELPGenesisJethro Tull, etc.

“In addition to all the great music, you'll also experience first storytelling, performances, and insights from my work with Steve HoweGTR, Ambrosia, Keith and Carl, and more. It's a presentation of my legacy of progressive rock from the past 30 years. We hope to see you in the audience and meet you in person after the show!”

For more information:
Website:  http://www.ColyerMusic.com
Artist Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ColyerMusicOfficial/
Personal Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ColyerMusic
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/colyermusic
Twitter - https://twitter.com/ColyerMusic
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/andrewcolyermusic

Purchasing:
CDBaby:  https://store.cdbaby.com/Artist/AndrewColyer
Bandcamp:  https://andrewcolyer.bandcamp.com/
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Time-Andrew-Colyer/dp/B07K1NG6X9/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/andrew-colyer/988935849

Videos
http://colyermusic.com/video/cinematic-rock/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

11/01/2018

Holiday-Instrumental-Classical Review: Andrew Colyer-Christmas Time-Piano Improvisations

Release Date: November 16, 2018
Label: Inner Nova Music

Well here it is almost Halloween and me, I am listening to a Christmas album! So why am I doing this right now instead of waiting until its closer to Thanksgiving? My answer to that is I knew it was going to be a different type of recording, an improvisational type of piano excursion with dissimilar influences peppered into the final recipe to make it more interesting and tastier.

For Andrew Colyer Christmas Time-Piano Improvisations is a big step away from Circuline, a progressive rock band he is part of. I covered the band’s Counterpoint album in 2016.

So, knowing this I was getting ready for a real treat. What Andrew decided to do was to record live off the floor. Everything is completely spontaneous without arrangements or refinements. That, by all means, is a big risk to take for any recording artists. All I can say is, this man has a lot of confidence in his abilities. Magically, all of this works out very well.

I really enjoy covering improvisational holiday music, particularly on solo piano. The inherent risks and difficulty level are very high. Most folks want to hear all the traditional holiday songs performed without any improvisation because it’s a yearly tradition. That is all fine with me but it is a wonderful thing to hear a piano player take all of his talents and create eleven tracks of holiday cheer with elements of jazz, classical, and new age all mixed in. It's like a musical hot toddy with some extra spice thrown in for some bite and to make sure you remember that last sip.

Andrew really appreciates George Winston, as do I. If you happen to be a musician by trade then you take that interest in George’s music to another level. He does that nicely with his ode to Charlie Brown on “Christmas Time is Here” (part 1 & part 2). He cleverly spreads the two tracks out from #3 to #9. Then of course track 8 is the obvious “Ode to George.”  Another well-done song that I am sure Mr. Winston would appreciate, in fact, I think he would enjoy this entire album.

It is great to see an artist not only step out from a musical comfort zone but to do it all without any plan or design of what to play. A free-form piano improvisation is more than just fine with me and I enjoyed every bit of it. This is solo piano music that can be appreciated any time of year actually. For this listener the timing was good, it is helping me get in the frame of mind that old man winter is right around the corner. I need to prepare myself mentally with a good attitude and be grateful for the four seasons and what they bring us. Thanks for Christmas Time-Piano Improvisations and the shot of positive energy Andrew!

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
October 30, 2018

Founder of:

Review Provided By New Age Music Reviews

Tracks: 
01. Silent Night
02. Jingle Bells
03. Christmas Time is Here (part 1)  
04. Melancholy Holiday
05. Let It Snow in New Orleans  
06. A Night in Brooklyn
07. We 3 Kings...in 5
08. Ode to George
09. Christmas Time is Here (part 2)
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
11. Hawaiian Healing Meditation [Ho'Oponopono]