Biography

Colin Farish is a multi-faceted musician who grew up in a world of sound and started playing the piano at age three. For him, “active listening reveals unfolding moments of silence and sound, playing with the dynamics between the two is my inspiration for creating music.” Colin is primarily a solo pianist and composer in the jazz and classical genres. He is also an accomplished acoustic guitarist and producer of world music and musical theater. Colin works in multiple genres, formats and styles, from soundtracks for award winning documentary films to original music for dance productions; from song-writing to live performances and recordings with Grammy winning musicians. He enjoys composing for both small and large ensembles, especially chamber jazz. His songwriting also embraces political satire, humor, and spiritual philosophy as elements of musical theater. In 2007 he was awarded an orchestral commission celebrating the Aga Khan’s North American visit. Coyote Jump (Canyon Records), won a Native American Music Award in 2012.

The wide scope of his influences are represented in his large discography that includes: twelve albums of original music for solo piano, twelve albums of music composed and arranged for instrumental ensemble (including piano duets, jazz trios, and quartets), four albums of solo piano jazz standards, five world music albums, and numerous songs, some of which are featured in an upcoming musical miniseries, Dream Songs, he has also written the book and the lyrics for. Many of his compositions can be heard as part of beautiful musical videos available on his video gallery.

History

Colin Farish was born March 15, 1961. From a very young age Colin started imitating whatever he heard by playing the piano by ear. At age four he began lessons with jazz pianist Fred Bergin. He was especially drawn to the music of Brazil. From age four to nine he performed up and down the coast of California, and in the islands of Hawai’i, both on solo piano and accompanying his father, Warren Douglas Dent, a talented baritone. 

Colin studied classical music at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. He recorded his first album in 1976 as a sideman for guitarist Paul Cypress. In 1977 he moved to Monterey and began studying with jazz pianist Bob Phillips. In 1979 he moved to India for a nearly three-year period of total immersion where he learned to play the sitar. Upon returning, he began his recording career. In 1991-1992 Colin studied classical guitar and composition at Cornish College for the Arts in Seattle, Washington.

From 1996-2004 Colin owned and operated Stillwater Sound, a recording studio and performance venue located in a historic chapel in the Presidio of San Francisco. There he hosted and produced countless events and recording projects, including producing over thirty albums of classical music for Bay area soloists, string quartets, a capella groups and small chamber orchestras.

Since 1993 Colin has lived in Mill Valley, California with his wife Melissa Nelson.