Colin Crawley has performed and recorded with, amongst others, the BBC Radio Big Band, The High Llamas, Stereolab, Doves, The London Jazz Orchestra, EPJ, Forty Feet Forward, The Nigel Waddington Jazz Orchestra, Mick Collins Big Band, Hot Orange and The Medusa Saxophone Quartet along with various groups under his own name. He is featured as saxophonist, flautist, composer and arranger on various recording sessions for radio, TV and commercial recordings and has appeared at venues including Ronnie Scott's, the 606 Club, the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall and Queen Elizabeth Hall amongst many others.

Colin is an active composer and arranger, having written for both radio and TV. Colin is the winner of the 1994-95 Musicians Union award for Most Outstanding Musician and the 1999 BBC Arranger's award for an original composition as part of the BBC National Big Band competition. He is also an educator, teaching at various institutions and for many years was a part-time lecturer in music at Goldsmiths College, University of London.