Richard Hallebeek

:: About Richard Hallebeek::

Richard Hallebeek has been playing guitar professionally for over 25 years and has recorded with Shawn Lane, Scott Henderson, Brett Garsed, Frank Gambale, Scott Kinsey, Dan Gilbert, Carl Verheyen, to name just a few.

Born august 2, 1969 in Bilthoven, Netherlands, Richard Hallebeek started playing guitar at age ten and took lessons from local teachers. He formed some local bands and started performing in various Jazz and Rock groups. Influences early on were Pat Martino, Allan Holdsworth, Scott Henderson's first album 'Spears', Eddie Van Halen, Pat Metheny, the radio and every album he could get his hands on at the local library. Already at the age of 17 he was submitted to the Hilversum Conservatory, a conservatory best known for it's strong Jazz history drawing musician's from all over Europe. Richard studied with Jazz legend Wim Overgaauw and Maarten van der Grinten, a. o.

In 1989 Rich was the winner of the Dutch 'Yamaha Band Explosion' with his band 'What A Gig'. The Yamaha Band Explosion is a world wide talent search for bands writing their own material. The grand finale was held at the Budokan Hall, Japan, Tokyo for a 17, 000 people screaming Japanese audience. In the jury were, a. o. Bon Jovi, Europe singer Joey Tempest and Casiopea guitarist Issei Noro. Hallebeek finished fourth with "Question of Love'.

In 1993 Richard was chosen out of more then 300 contenders to take part in the International Ibanez Guitar Award for 'Best All round Player'.

The finale was happening in Ahoy, Rotterdam and in the jury were a. o. Alex Skolnick (Testament) and Dutch session ace Lex Bolderdijk. Performing the Jazz Standard 'Road Song', the Rock Classic 'After Midnight' in an 'all instrumental' version and playing an unaccompanied solo, Hallebeek became the second price winner.

Around this time, things start to get real busy, besides already playing in different groups, there's also teaching and doing countless sessions and studio hours for radio, movies, commercials, (Dutch PTT Phonecompany, Hooghoudt, Region Police, Fokker, etc. etc. ) and TV.

In 1994 he received a scholarship for a foreign study from the Prins Bernhard Fonds. At the end of '94 he leaves to Los Angeles for a one year study at the Musician's Institute to study ear training, composition and improvisation. He studies with Scott Henderson, Dan Gilbert, TJ Helmerich and Brett Garsed, a. o. He graduates with an honors degree.

It's at Orchid Avenue, Hollywood, where Richard meets his 'improvising over strange chord progressions' neighbor, Antti Kotikoski, a young guitar player from Finland. Antti has a big influence on the way Rich looks at music, composing and improvising. Together they team up to do a weekly performance at the Musician's Institute with various musician's at first, but later notably with Jan Fabricky on drums and J. K. on bass. Their goal is to write strong material, while still staying true to their guitar roots and leaving a lot of room for improvisation. Influences in their music can be anything, ranging from Rock, Fusion, Jazz to Pop and Heavy Riffs since they both have such a varied background. They continue to perform all year and record their first album in the M. I. studio, (now known as 'Tommy Tedesco' studios where numerous artists have recorded CD's since the first recordings of Richard and Antti) which was an initiative from engineer and eight finger tapping guitar wonder TJ Helmerich (now with Planet X). Some players who stop by to jam at those recording dates are Scott Henderson, M. I. teacher Dan Gilbert, Carl Verheyen and Frank Gambale.

At the end of '94, Richard gets the call from guitar guru Mark Varney well know for his monthly 'Spotlight Column' in Guitar Player and his Legato Records label who had featured so many great players Richard was heavily into before moving to L. A. Mark had heard some rumors about two hot new players and was interested in hearing some music.

At the beginning of '95 Richard and Antti sign a four album contract with the Legato label and Mark Varney. The first CD 'Generator' was released in November '96. Featured on that album are also Scott Henderson, (Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul) Frank Gambale, Dan Gilbert, Scott Kinsey (Keyboardist from Tribal Tech) and Carl Verheyen (Probably the most recorded guitarist in L. A session history. )

In '98 back in Amsterdam, Holland, 'True Colors', from Richard's rock group Maximum Brain Disfunktion is printed in a small quantity and sold at local gigs around Holland.

The beginning of 2000 brings a welcome distraction from the usual fusion stuff: Rich plays a 6 month tour, playing 6 nights a week, performing Händel's classical masterpiece ‘The Young Messiah' throughout the Benelux.

Rich also starts gigging around with drummer René Engel, probably best known for his CD project 'Jazz Sick' with Mike Stern and Danny Gottlieb.

In march '98 'Spheres of Samarkand' is released which features alot of outstanding guitarwork. Featured on that CD are also: Jeroen de Rijk (Mezzoforte), Nippy Noya (percussion legend). In 2003 ‘Nostalgia' is released which further showcased the style of Rich which is moving more and more in his own original direction.

2003 Rich thinks it's about time to do it his way, all the way. He initiates the Richard Hallebeek Project and gets help from some of his musical friends: Shawn Lane and Brett Garsed both contribute four solos. The band consists of a few of his musical heroes, young drummer Bas Cornelissen and keyboard virtuoso Lale Larson both contribute songs for the RHP and are heavily involved in the creative process, making it more of a band effort. Within a month after it's release on the new guitar oriented U. K. Liquid Note Records label, RHP tops guitar9. com being the best selling and most popular fusion album and the album gets rave reviews through out the world.

There have been interviews and reviews with and about Richard in the 'Guitarist' and the Dutch 'Music Maker', American 'Guitar World' and 'Jazz Times' and the Japanese 'Young Guitar' and the Italian 'Axe'.

Richard Hallebeek has an endorsement with Brian Moore Custom Guitars USA (playing a C-90), KOCH guitar amps and speaker cabinets and Diezel amps. He has a habit of using too many pedals.