Colosseum - The Valentyne Suite || Jana's First Listen and Song REVIEW

[@mvjonsson]

The Colosseum keyboardist Dave Greenslade later formed the Symphonic progband Greenslade, which I think is a band Nathan will enjoy.

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

I was just listening to the album Greenslade. A great prog LP with phenomenal artwork by Roger Dean, of Yes fame. I think this is my favourite painting of his.

[@NathanOnShuffle]

Awesome, will need to check it out!

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

Great reaction you two. Just loved the look of fear and terror on Jenna’s face when the track started but fair play you stuck it through Jen. Sometimes a curved ball is just what the doctor ordered. All the best. Dave✅✅

[@gaiaeternal5131]

Hi Shufflers. Dave here. I know this piece because my older brother had it when we were in our teens at home. For me, the star of the show is Jon Hiseman, one of my favourite drummers. I'm a fan of his mid 70s band Colosseum II, which is still jazz rock but with more rock and prog in there. He was joined by Gary Moore on guitar and Don Airey on keys. Recommended proggy track: The Scorch. Another great video, Nathan and Jana.

[@NathanOnShuffle]

Will have to check out that track! Thanks!

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

Jana has - thoughts! Oooh dangerous. You never know where they will take you. George Orwell, 1984 and the Thought Police...

[@IllumeEltanin]

“I am Idina Mendel in the car.” Me too..! “A tiger in a cage Can never see the sun This diva needs her stage Baby, let's have fun!” “So if you care to find me Look to the western sky As someone told me lately "Everyone deserves the chance to fly" I'm defying gravity And you won't bring me down Bring me down Bring me down” “Let it go Let it go!!!”

[@IllumeEltanin]

If you’re willing to do older Prog, with an end of the’60s sound, please add The Four Horsemen by early Vangelis led band Aphrodite’s Child to the shuffle. Jana, it’s short but is considered to be from an important early Prog album, although like the Moody Blues the album is more progressive rather than the individual tracks. First time listen to Colosseum for me as well, and like Nathan this strikes me as potentially one of the first Jazz Fusion pieces with a lot of progressive transitions. Not really my cuppa tea, but definitely interesting to experience once.

[@yes_head]

Colosseum were an important but -- as this demonstrates -- relatively unknown band. They were sort of a waypoint for many British musicians, some coming and some going. Drummer Jon Hiseman, sax player Dick Heckstall-Smith, and bass player Tony Reeves came from stints in the Graham Bond Organization and John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, although this was keyboard player Dave Greenslade's (very Emerson influenced obviously) and guitarist James Litherland's first major group. So you can consider them a sort of laboratory for musicians who already had a lot of experience playing improvised and instrumental music, but with the explosion of progressive rock in '69 it provided them all with an outlet to experiment even further. IMO Dave Greenslade (who went on to form his own band and put out several solid albums) is the star of the show here.

[@markspooner1224]

All great musicians, maybe Lost Angeles from the live album with vocals by the great Chris Farlowe would tickle your fancy more.

[@colindonington6568]

There's something wrong with the end of that piece, with James Litherland's guitar solo. It's just lost in the swirl of the organ. It's that solo that tips the work over the edge wonderfully.

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

I would like to suggest a track. Hedgerow, by Big Big Train, from English Electric??

[@NathanOnShuffle]

One of my favorites! I'll put it in the list!

[@andrewlongshaw2128]

Thanks Nathan. I was only just listening to it and thought of Jana. Victorian Brickwork gets m9st of the the plaudits, from English Electric, but I really like Hedgerow

[@lawrenceheadrick]

Just asking, but are you two a couple or just friends?

[@NathanOnShuffle]

We are a couple, married for 11 years!