Colosseum – Bread & Circuses LP

Colosseum – Bread & Circuses

The more time that passed from the day in November 1971 that Jazz-rock pioneers Colosseum split up, the less likely it seemed that they would ever work together again. However, more than 40 years down the line, Jon Hiseman, Chris Farlowe, Clem Clempson, Dave Greenslade and Mark Clarke were still going strong. Tragically, Saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith succumbed to an 18 month long battle with ill heath and died at the end of 2004. Jon’s long time wife and internationally-renowned saxophonist Barbara Thompson stepped into his shoes through his long ordeal and became a permanent member until her retirement from public performance in 2015. Since the death of legendary drummer Jon Hiseman in 2018, Colosseum has reformed to play gigs and festivals throughout Europe. The band’s break-up in 1971 meant their final release had been a live album which was rated as one of their finest offerings – and it is perhaps fitting that they should have kicked off the return of Colosseum with another live effort The Reunion Concerts 1994.Following on the heels of their 1994 reunion tour, 1997 heralded the band’s return to studio recording after a twenty-seven-year hiatus. Marking a departure from their prog rock roots, this is Colosseum in solid jazz/blues/rock fusion mode. Expect funky, pumping bass (Mark Clarke) and drums (Jon Hiseman), overlaid with Clem Clempson’s sinewy guitar and Chris Farlowe’s take-no-prisoners vocals. Older and wiser, the band nonetheless keep things tight producing superbly constructed songs.    

Tracklist:
Side One
1.Watching Your Every Move
2. Bread & Circuses
3.Wherever I Go
4. High Time
5. Big Deal
6. The One That Got Away (instrumental)

Side Two
1. The Playground
2. No Pleasin’
3. I Could Tell You Tales
4. Storms Behind The Breeze
5. The Other Side Of The Sky

Label: Repertoire Records
Released: 1997/2022