This 1996 Streets And Walkways: The Best Of Gary Moore & Colosseum II provides a good overview of Colosseum II 's Electric Savage and War Dance while it also adds some songs from 1978's Back on the Streets by Gary Moore. Gary Moore has earned the status of guitar legend. This disc shows that he was as adept at playing in a jazz-fusion style as he was as a high octane rocker. This is an excellent introduction, for those who have only heard his more famous stuff, to a different side of Gary's playing.
What a show! The live power of Gentle Giant comes through in this DVD. They really give new life to some of the featured songs, especially the poppier "The Missing Piece" songs. First off, all five are spot on with every instrument played and singing. Stunning!…
Recorded live outdoors in a Tokyo park in the Summer of 1975 with thousands of fans hanging on every note and word, Otis digs deep and delivers some of the most inspired singing and playing he's ever comitted to magnetic tape. All the performances are of a nice, comfortable lenth with none of the interminable soloing that mars other Rush live sets. This is the one to have.
Be Bop Deluxe at the BBC is a 3CD+DVD set that features the work of the English prog rock band while at the Beeb. In total, 39 tracks across the three audio discs take in numerous John Peel sessions and ‘BBC In Concert’ performances, while the DVD includes many Old Grey Whistle Test appearances and footage of numbers played on the ‘Sight and Sound in Concert’ TV programme.
Colosseum II was a British band formed in 1975 by the former Colosseum drummer and leader, Jon Hiseman, following the 1974 demise of his band Tempest. Hiseman announced his plan to form the band eventually named Colosseum II in November 1974, but only Gary Moore was named as a member. Rehearsals were due to begin on January 1, 1975, but a permanent unit was not finalised until May 1975. Among musicians who almost made the group were Graham Bell, Duncan Mackay and Mark Clarke. The final line-up was completed by Don Airey, Neil Murray and Mike Starrs. The band was oriented toward jazz fusion, much of which was driven by the guitar work of Moore, leading to a much heavier sound than the original Colosseum band.
{RYM}Here we have everything, from fast pomping passages to more mellow parts, the sound and manner of composing here is more refined then on their debute, the musicianship is tight, great ideas and top notch pieces. The interplay between guitar and organ (keyboards) and drums I must say is absolutly killer and inventive. There are some passages that truly shine no less, like on opening Put it this way, what to say really , impressive playing from each msucian, Gary Moore in duel with master Don Airey, somemthing not to be missed by any prog/jazz rock lover.
Several years after the original art rock supergroup Colosseum disbanded, drummer Jon Hiseman formed Colosseum II, a more jazz fusion-oriented outfit featuring guitarist Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy) and keyboardist Don Airey. Their eclectic debut, Strange New Flesh, shows some impressive chops from all involved, with an emphasis on Moore's soulful guitar leads. Vocalist Mike Starr, while not an immensely engaging singer, does a nice job keeping up with Hiseman and bass player Neil Murray. Highlights include the technically showy but blissfully irreverent ode to Pink Floyd, "Dark Side of the Moog," a nice version of Joni Mitchell's "Down to You," and the funky "Gemini and Leo."