Valentyne Suite

Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music.
Second album from this groundbreaking quintet that had offered us much of a thrill with their debut. Again here, if you are looking for the vinyl, please be aware that this album came out with a very close-looking version in America, but a completely different track list and is titled, The Grass Is Greener 5BTW, I distinctly remember a first version of Lost Angeles on this version of the album).

One of England's prime jazz-rock - or, more accurately, rock-jazz - outfits, most of the members of Colosseum had apprenticed in blues bands, and it shows very strongly on some of the material here. Both "The Kettle" and "Butty's Blues" are essentially tarted-up 12-bar blues, although they work well in a grander context; in the latter case much grander, as a brass ensemble enters for the last part, drowning out everything but the guitar, an indication that this recording is in dire need of remastering. "Elegy" is a fast-paced, minor-key blues that stretches guitarist James Litherland's vocal abilities. Things do get far more interesting with "The Machine Demands a Sacrifice," which offers solo opportunities to organist Dave Greenslade and sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith before re-emerging in what can only be called a proto-industrial style, all heavily treated clattering percussion…

Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection.
It's easy to say this is the U.S. version of the European released "Valentyne Suite", but it's much more complicated than that. We have some different musicians on this one, and half the songs on here weren't on the original.

The second album from this British jazz-rock quintet rocks harder than their first outing. Their take on Jack Bruce's "Rope Ladder to the Moon" is especially strong, and "Jumping off the Sun" has a similar feel. "Bolero" has been done to death, but guitarist Dave Clempson (who later replaced Peter Frampton in Humble Pie) uses it to launch a showcase of guitar fireworks. In fact, Clempson's blazing guitar licks shine throughout. Dick Heckstall-Smith once again impresses on his arsenal of saxophones and woodwinds, and the seven-and-a-half minute title cut which he co-wrote with drummer Jon Hiseman is a highlight of this disc.

A chance to sit back and enjoy the “reunion era” Colosseum live on stage at the 2003 Viersen Jazz Festival performing tracks from then-new album Tomorrow’s Blues. Recorded during founder member Dick Heckstall-Smith’s  nal illness, world renowned saxophonist Barbara Thompson (Jubiaba, Paraphernalia) steps in. The result is a powerful performance from Barbara, Clem Clempson (guitar), Dave Greenslade (keyboards), Mark Clarke (bass), Chris Farlowe (vocals) and bandleader Jon Hiseman (drums). Alongside newer material including ‘I Could Tell You Tales’, the ensemble return to their Prog roots with a captivating rendition of ‘The Valentyne Suite’ and an epic ‘Lost Angeles’ (the latter  rst released on their 1970 album The Grass Is Greener). ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ gives full rein to Farlowe’s mastery of the blues as Colosseum reinterpret Ray Charles’ original with some note-bending licks from Clem and Barbara’s sultry sax underpinning the closing number. Interspersed with interview footage with Jon Hiseman in which he explores the band’s musical complexity and continuing popularity in light of their decision to reform in 1994, this beautifully packaged CD/DVD presentation is a must for all Colosseum fans. As Hiseman explains: “You have to feed this creature. If you don’t feed it, it dies. Also, you can’t make it do, what it doesn’t want to do.”