Colosseum

Colosseum were a pioneering English progressive jazz-rock band, mixing progressive rock and jazz-based improvisation. The band was formed in September 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, tenor sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith and bass player Tony Reeves, who had previously worked together in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers on the Bare Wires album. Dave Greenslade, on organ, was immediately recruited, and the line-up was completed by Jim Roche on guitar, although Roche only recorded one track before being replaced by James Litherland, (guitar and vocals). Hiseman and Heckstall-Smith had also previously played in Graham Bond's band, and Colosseum utilised several of the songs from that period.

The band made their live debut in Newcastle and were promptly recorded by influential BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel for his Top Gear Radio program. This appearance gained them valuable exposure and critical acclaim. (Read more at Wikipedia)

Links to Peel
"One of the best groups you'll ever hear or see, Colosseum" (Johm Peel, "son of Night Ride, 28 May 1969)

When Colosseum emerged on the scene in 1969, Peel was very taken with their music, introducing them on sessions for Top Gear and Radio 1 concerts, and enthusing about them on-air and in print. In issue 54 of International Times, dated 11 April 1969, he reviewed their first album:

""The second essential LP is the first of, I hope, several thousand from the Colosseum on Fontana STL 5510....Several evenings ago I ventured to their reception at Ronnie Scott's (I have been too scared of the place to go and see Roland Kirk - discredit to me, not the place. Quite honestly Jon Hiseman makes most group drummers look grossly inadequate - he makes the drums into a musical entity rather than solely a basis for rhythm. The rest of the group are as good and must be the most exciting group you'll see for some time....Buy it, steal it, treasure it - play it loudly and often to those dear to you.""

tbc

Sessions

 * Number of sessions? Any commercial release of sessions?

1. Recorded: YYYY-MM-DD. First broadcast: DD Month YYYY. Repeated: DD Month YYY 2. Recorded: YYYY-MM-DD. First broadcast: DD Month YYYY. Repeated: DD Month YYY etc
 * Song title / Song Title / Song Title / Song Title
 * Song title / Song Title / Song Title / Song Title

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Other Shows Played
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 * DD Month YYYY: Song (single/album) Label