In 1979 Jon joined Barbara Thompson's
band Paraphernalia, and MCA Records released 3 albums before 1982 when
Jon built a 24Tk recording studio next to their home and founded TM Studios/TM
Records. Jon and Barbara have averaged about a 100 concerts and a CD
a year ever since. In addition they are in demand for their Film & TV
score production, and currently work on the Yorkshire Television series
'A Touch of Frost' starring David Jason. The studio is continually updated
and is now one of the larger studios around London packed with the latest
in analogue and digital recording technology.
In 1975 Jon was a founder member
of the United Jazz & Rock Ensemble. This ten piece band has released
an album and toured every two years or so ever since.
Jon released his first solo album
'A Night In The Sun' (it's not a drum solo album!) which was recorded
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1982. Since then he has produced and performed
on eight Paraphernalia albums 'Mother Earth', ''Nightwatch', 'A Cry From
The Heart', 'Breathless', 'Everlasting Flame', 'Lady Saxophone', 'Shifting
Sands', the latest 'Thompson's Tangos' and Barbara's album 'Heavenly
Bodies'. He recorded and produced Barbara’s album 'Songs From The
Centre Of The Earth' - solo saxophone pieces recorded on location in
the natural acoustic of a 12th Century mediaeval abbey in Provence, France,
and 'Barbarasong', arrangements of Kurt Weill songs for Barbara and the
Medici String Quartet. Jon's more recent projects include production
on 'Innocence', Ana Gracey's forthcoming album, Barbara Thompson's 'In
the Eye of a Storm' a new compilation ballads album, a collaboration
involving Barbara and percussionist Evelyn Glennie 'Rhythms of the Gods',
'Three Quartets' featuring the Apollo Saxophone Quartet composed by Barbara
Thompson and Jon is currently working on a new Colosseum album due to
be released in the Autumn of 2003, when they will also embark on a European
tour.
Jon is famous for his drum solos and 60 concerts were digitally recorded
during Paraphernalia and United Jazz & Rock Ensemble tours in 1985.
This resulted in the album 'About Time Too!' being released in the Autumn
of 1986. This is a drum solo album and has just been re-released on CD.
It's a great album for parties when you want people to leave!
In 1995 following serious pressure from the lads, Jon reformed Colosseum.
Following more than 140 smash concerts all over Europe, Jon recorded
and co-produced 2 albums and a live video (now available on DVD).
'Colosseum LiveS - The Reunion Concerts' and the video of the
same name were released in 1995 and a new studio CD 'Bread and Circuses'
was released in 1997. This was followed in 2003 by a new studio CD "Tomorrows
Blues".
Paraphernalia on Tour, Stuttgart, Winter 2005
