COLOSSEUM LIVES (DVD)

In 94, Colosseum reconvened for a reunion tour, as they became aware of the continuous attention the individual musicians were getting from fans. So John Hiseman once again took the helm, and the rehearsal then the triumphant concerts were given and they decided to go on with further sessions to seal the reunion with a new studio album. While this new album is not really up to par with what had been done some 25 years earlier (read my review about it), the live concerts were certainly immensely good and flawlessly played. As leader Hiseman says, they were doing nothing new, but whatever they did, they did it much better than back then.

So the concert part of the DVD is absolutely enjoyable, flawlessly played and the track selection is quite outstanding. Actually, the track selection takes what had been recorded on their last album, the double Live album, over twenty years ago, and adds up a few essential tracks from the first two albums with the first line-up. And all of these tracks are absolutely superbly rendered by a fired-up band, but having added Those About To Die (they open the show with it), the orgiastic Elegy and the orgasmic Valentyne Suite, they could not have done it better, really! So much that it is making almost useless that very record it takes most of its selection from as it had a few flaws (of which was much too bluesy). A two hour show done impeccably by most musicians bordering the 60 years of age (they were seasoned veterans by the time Colosseum disbanded in late 71), but with the enthusiasm and power equal to their previous tour a quarter a century earlier and a fabulous savoir-faire of the German film crew - this was recorded in Cologne and the reunion tour was mostly on a German initiative. However, I must admit a slight disappointment as to how much Greenslade uses the vibraphone next to him. Outside the opening part of Rope Ladder, he only plays one-handed while playing his Hammond with the left hand; and even when he does, all too few spaces is reserved for it. With Valentyne and Angeles, the vibes parts play an immense role, despite the length of the roles, and play an integral part in the general artistic success of both epics. If for Valentyne, I can understand Greenslade is maybe too busy on the Hammond, he could maybe delegate the few but so important notes to Farlowe (surely he could manage with a minimum practise, since he's got almost nothing to do on the piece), for Lost Angeles, the vibes passage occur during Farlowe's awesome and desperate vocal passage, so maybe some other musician could've learned the part, instead of the half-baked one-hand thing. Oh well, too bad.

But the goodies do not stop there. The second part of the DVD is a superb rockumentary about the reunion and the future album recording sessions, but also and mainly the historics of Colosseum from their career start to the ultimate demise of the group. Plenty of superb filming from those heydays, plenty of interviews from the musicians (all of them, Reeves and Litherland included), but their management and crew also. Absolutely perfect, and even if Hiseman takes the centre-role, he does not pull all the cover to himself either. Absolutely perfect and almost a dream come true!!! A must and maybe the only five star in their catalogue besides the second Valentyne Suite album.

This is the complete concert without cuts. Good sound, good pictures, good music! + a 90 min documentary about the band. This is how concert DVD's should be!

If you have this DVD there is really no need to buy the studio albums unless you are a big fan or collector. This is the ultimate Colloseum product. The highlight for me is without doubt the complete Vallentyne Suite in what I consider it's ultimate version. Much better than the original studio album version. Indeed, all of the songs sound better here than on their respective original studio versions!

This DVD is also the only place to look if you want to see Dave Greenslade's wonderful keyboard playing on film (that I know of).

The only criticism is the tediously long drum solo. But it is an excellent place to go out for a coffee!

This is the best place to start if you want to discover Colloseum and for me this is the only Colloseum product you ever need. Also I think this DVD is a great place to start if you want to investigate the Jazz-rock/fusion sub-genre (not that I'm an expert on this though).

Good, very good.