Colosseum: BREAD & CIRCUSES : NEU CD Gatefold-Digipak REPUK1379
Colosseum “The Return of A Legend”
The first studio album from the new Colosseum line-up featuring
Chris Farlowe, Clem Clempson and Mark Clarke together with new members
Kim Nishikawara (saxophone), Nick Steed (Keyboards) and Malcolm
Mortimore (drums)
Recorded in London and New York during 2021 and produced by Clem
Clempson and Mark Clarke, Restoration comprises ten brand new tracks
Colosseum will be touring Europe and the UK from May 2022 until the end of September.
Originally formed in 1968 by ex-New Jazz Orchestra members JON HISEMAN
(drums - the Graham Bond Organisation, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers),
DICK HECKSTALL-SMITH (saxophones - the Graham Bond Organisation, John
Mayall’s Bluesbreakers) and DAVE GREENSLADE (keyboards - Chris Farlowe’s
Thunderbirds), COLOSSEUM were at the forefront of the jazz/prog rock
vanguard. Hugely innovative and dynamic live, the band broke up in 1971,
only to reform in 1994 for a series of tours and new albums which
lasted into the 2000s.
Fast forward to 2022 and COLOSSEUM will be on the road again with a new
line-up comprising original frontman CHRIS FARLOWE, guitarist CLEM
CLEMPSON and bassist MARK CLARKE.
Joining on Hammond organ, piano, synths and vocals is NICK STEED,
keyboard wizard and songwriter whose previous credits include Van
Morrison, PP Arnold, Chris Farlowe and Sonja Kristina, and whose
songwriting has received worldwide acclaim from the likes of Toto and
Snarky Puppy.
One of Canada’s top saxophone players, KIM NISHIKAWARA has worked with
many Canadian acts including Michael Buble, Powder Blues and the
legendary Downchild Blues Band. Since being based in the UK Kim has been
in great demand as a blues/jazz saxophonist, working with with Jack
Bruce, Alan Price, Cliff Bennett, Maggie Bell and Chris Farlowe. Kim is
thrilled to be stepping into the role formerly held by one of his great
heroes, Dick Heckstall-Smith.
Completing the new line-up on drums is MALCOLM MORTIMORE, whose drumming
style has been described as “free, quirky and complex”, and who was a
member of legendary prog band Gentle Giant, as well as playing with
Arthur Brown, Ian Dury, Chris Jagger and Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Bobby
Womack, Frankie Miller, Tom Jones and Van Morrison, and many Jazz
legends including Barney Kessel, Charlie Byrd, Buddy Tate and Oliver
Jones.