Colosseum

There is very good JazzRock thread, and from the third page on there was an interesting debate on Colosseum. Here's the link: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=30047&PN=3

Yes, Colosseum is amazing, especially live. Rarely will you find conversations about them.

We may refer to it as prog here, but in the real world it's just another great band.

How many Led Zeppelin and Doors conversations do you see here?

I only have "Daughter of time" (vinyl). Some very good songs on it.

Colosseum's Jon Hiseman is master jazz drummer - just been relistening to his contribution to the 1968 recording, Jack Bruce's Things We Like, also with John McLaughlin and Dick Heck Heckstall-Smith. Tempest (Hiseman's band between Colosseum and Colosseum II) was  a now neglected but major rock jazz group, first with Allan Holdsworth on guitar, overlapping with and then being superceded by the legendary Ollie Hassell - i.e. Jon Hiseman has always associated with the  very best (not forgetting Gary Moore). Might be worth trying to track down the Holdsworth/Bruce/Hiseman demos of 1979 or 80's , which have become known as The Sherwood Tapes, indicating a possible third phase of a Colosseum-like band. much of the 80's and 90's Hiseman played in his wife's band, the  saxophonist Barbara Thompson's Paraphenalia.

oracus wrote: One of my favorite bands. Hiseman IMO is the most overlooked prog drummer in history.

Agreed ! Their primal period (1969-1971) is absolutely incredible, but their second incarnation as Colosseum II
was a disappointment for me because of heavier direction taken.
     

Atavachron wrote: More of a C ll fan myself, but Jon Hiseman is terrific either way.

I've got all three CII albums, as I am a major Gary Moore fan (he's my fav guitarist along with Blackmore). I also have "Valentyne Suite", which is a great album indeed (I have a double CD version including both the British and the American edition) - I'm planning to get the others too. And Hiseman is one of the greatest drummers - too often forgotten in favour of all the Portnoys of this world.

I don't feel Colosseum II owed anything to the original Colosseum. Apparently Gerry Bron, when they signed to Bronze, told Jon Hiseman sales would be better if he called it 'Colosseum something'. I feel CII's sound is far more akin to acts like Return To Forever, or maybe, what Jeff Beck was doing then due to the pronounced synths. But great albums nevertheless.

Colossem are a fave band of mine too, yes. Three great original studio albums and a cracking live album to boot. Not heard the reformation albums but they have been recently reissued.

Ghost Rider wrote: Atavachron wrote: More of a C ll fan myself, but Jon Hiseman is terrific either way. I've got all three CII albums, as I am a major Gary Moore fan (he's my fav guitarist along with Blackmore). I also have "Valentyne Suite", which is a great album indeed (I have a double CD version including both the British and the American edition) - I'm planning to get the others too. And Hiseman is one of the greatest drummers - too often forgotten in favour of all the Portnoys of this world.

And Moore really shines on those records, his best work I think.
    

Witchwoodhermit wrote: Great music, have problems with the voice however. Hiseman is brilliant.

[QUOTE=Dick Heath][QUOTE=Witchwoodhermit]Great music, have problems with the voice however.

Hiseman is brilliant.