Colosseum

Colosseum - Live Cologne 1994 - 2003 - Angel Air

Colosseum's music has been described as "high-energy jazz-blues-rock fusion with classical influences." Colosseum is one of the pivotal progressive bands that emerged in the second part of the 60's. In 1968 the founding members were drummer Jon Hiseman, the late tenor sax-player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, later joined by Dave Greenslade (keyboards), Clem Clempson (guitar), Chris Farlowe (vocals) and Mark Clarke, who replaced Tony Reeves. Colosseum made three studio albums: "Those Who Are To Die We Salute You" and "Valentyne Suite" (both from ’69) and "Daughter Of Time" (’70). The music is a progressive mix of several styles (rock, jazz, blues) with lots of sensational solos and captivating interplay. In ’71 the band released their highly acclaimed live album "Colosseum live", a proof of their great skills on stage but also showing that at some moments the compositions sounded a bit too stretched. After Colosseum was disbanded in ’71, most of these members formed or joined known groups like Humble Pie (Clem Clempson), Atomic Rooster (Chris Farlowe), Greenslade (Dave Greenslade re-united with Tony Reeves) and Colosseum II (founded by Jon Hiseman). The band was reunited in 1994 and is still active until to date.

There are many editions of these reunion concerts on VHS, DVD, and DVD/CD. This album contains six tracks from the second reunion concert on October 28, 1994 at the E-Werk in Cologne, Germany. The album is HR by A.O.O.F.C. Listen to the band's outstanding jazz rock classic "Grass Is Greener" album and check out the band's "Tomorrow's Blues" album @ COLOSS/TB

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1. Those About to Die - Greenslade, Heckstall-Smith, Hiseman, Reeves 5:22
2. Skelington - Clempson, Hiseman12:24
3. Tanglewood '63 - Mike Gibbs 10:54
4. Rope Ladder to the Moon - Brown, Bruce 9:41
5. Stormy Monday Blues - T-Bone Walker 5:27
6. Walking in the Park - Graham Bond 6:36

BAND

Dave 'Clem' Clempson - Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Mark Clarke - Bass, Vocals
Dave Greenslade - Hammond Organ, Vibraphone, Vocals
Jon Hiseman - Drums, Percussion,Gong, Pearl drums, Paiste Cymbals
Dick Heckstall-Smith RIP - Soprano & Tenor Saxophone
Chris Farlowe - Vocals

SHORT BIO

One of the most influential of the early British progressive rock bands, Colosseum fused an adventurous approach to rock with strong jazz and blues influences and classical keyboard accents; they earned a loyal and lasting following though they never scored a major breakthrough hit. Colosseum was founded in 1968 by saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith, bassist Tony Reeves, and drummer Jon Hiseman; the three had previously worked with John Mayall, playing on his album Bare Wires, and Heckstall-Smith and Hiseman were formerly members of the Graham Bond Organisation. The first lineup was completed with the addition of Dave Greenslade on keyboards and Jim Roche on guitar, though Roche's tenure in the band was brief and he was soon replaced by James Litherland, who also sang lead. After making their live debut in Newcastle, Colosseum earned a valuable ally in legendary BBC disc jockey John Peel, who featured the band on his Top Gear radio show. Fontana Records signed the band, and their first album, Those Who Are About to Die Salute You, was released in 1969; it fared well in the charts, and the lead-off track, "Walking in the Park," was issued as a single, though it proved to be the only 7" from the group. Colosseum's second album, Valentyne Suite, appeared later the same year; it was the debut release from Vertigo Records, the influential progressive and hard rock label. (Vertigo and Fontana were both affiliated with the Dutch recording firm Phillips.) 1970's Daughter of Time featured a new lineup of the band; James Litherland left to form the band Mogul Thrash and Tony Reeves moved into production full-time, and Colosseum added guitarist Dave Clempson, bassist Mark Clarke, and lead vocalist Chris Farlowe. Another Colosseum album, The Grass Is Greener, appeared in 1970, but it was in fact a revised version of Valentyne Suite, released only in the United States and featuring four of the original selections from the LP and four new songs. In 1971, Colosseum jumped ship from Vertigo to the newly formed Bronze Records and recorded a handful of shows at Manchester University and the Big Apple club in Brighton; the band broke up before they could complete a studio album for their new label, and 1971's Colosseum Live would prove to be the last release from the group's first era. In 1975, Jon Hiseman launched Colosseum II, a more jazz-oriented combo which also featured Gary Moore on guitar and Don Airey on keyboards; the new group released three albums before parting ways in 1978. In 1994, the Daughter of Time lineup of Colosseum reunited for a concert tour, and a live album was drawn from the concerts. The band issued a new studio album in 1997, Breads & Circuses, and Colosseum has reconvened for periodic recordings and live shows ever since. Saxophonist Barbara Thompson (who is married to Jon Hiseman) frequently appeared with the reunited version of Colosseum, and became an official member of the group following the death of Dick Heckstall-Smith in 2004. © Mark Deming © 2011 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/artist/colosseum-p16590/biography