Valentyne Suite

Description

Olosseum is an English jazz rock band, blending blues, rock, and jazz-based improvisation. Colin Larkin (Encyclopedia of Popular Music) wrote that "the commercial acceptance of jazz rock in the UK" was mainly due to the band. The group was formed in early 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman with tenor saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith, who met while both were playing in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. Valentyne Suite takes the band out of their bluesy comfort zone into something closer to progressive rock. The album is generally considered their best and remains extremely enjoyable. A little anecdote: the riff from "The Kettle" was used in "Ya Mama" by Fatboy Slim.