Mask

One of Britain's most profilic film and TV composers, Colin Towns' name has graced the credits of many prestigious and popular dramas including SPACE TRUCKERS with Dennis Hopper, THE PUPPET MASTERS starring Donald Sutherland, Nicholas Cage's VAMPIRE'S KISS, THE SCULPTRESS and CAPTIVES starring Tim Roth of RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION fame.

Colin Towns began his musical career playing piano for weddings and birthdays in London's East End. Throughout his teenage years and into his 20s, he played in numerous dance bands and jazz ensembles.

At the age of 27, he took what now seems the unlikely step of joining forces with Ian Gillan (Deep Purple) who fronted Gillan, one of the rock successes of the late 70s and early 80s. Colin played keyboards with the band and co-wrote most of their material. The partnership lasted through 10 albums and ended in 1983 with the group's break-up.

Having long courted the desire to write music for film, Colin was given the opportunity to write the score for FULL CIRCLE (Mia Farrow and Tom Conti). He recorded a demo, and on the strength of this, the film-makers were able to create additional interest in the film. Unusually, almost all reviews of the film referred to the music, and the score, still available on CD, has taken on cult status.

Despite Colin's outstanding reputation for film and TV work, his first love is jazz. His idea for an exciting and innovative jazz ensemble began in his mind many years before it came to fruition. In late 1990 THE MASK ORCHESTRA was born. A 19 piece big band bringing together some of the greatest and most important new and established players in jazz today, THE MASK ORCHESTRA are an exciting and ground-breaking group. Together they take all that is great in the jazz genre, turn it on its head and produce music which, unlike so much 'new' jazz, actually looks forward instead of back.

BOLT FROM THE BLUE, which was released in the UK as the self-titled MASK ORCHESTRA, hugely impressed the British press and public alike. The Stage described the album as sumptuous, rich, breathtaking, dynamic. The Sunday Times said it was one of the most heartening surprises of the past couple of years. The band, comprising some of the best jazz soloists in Europe, went on to do a sell-out British tour which was featured live on national radio. One of the performances was recorded and made into a film by Hollywood director, Stuart Orme. The Guardian described it as one of the unforgettable moments of the... as dangerously ambitious as anything LOOSE TUBES might have produced.

Retitled Bolt From The Blue and re-released by Provocateur in 1997. This is the original 2-CD release from The Jazz Label, Durham, U.K. in 1993. The exact music, order, and total running time. Collector's Item for the completist.