Jazz Archives

"Based upon the diversity of music, quality of product and their extraordinary rate of progress, Pure Pleasure Records is our re-issue record company of the year."
- hi-fi+

Remastered, re-evaluated, this landmark 1976 recording by a who's-who of British jazz - including Barbara Thompson, Ian Carr (Nucleus), Tony Coe, Geoff Castle and Dave Macrae - reaffirms Neil Ardley as one of the most important innovators of British modern jazz.
This album became famous for its supremely original music but also for it's impeccable engineering by Martin Levan. On the original single LP, the sound quality had to be compromised to enable the inclusion of 27 minutes of music per side. Much of the bass and stereo effect was removed. Now as a double LP mastered from the original analog tapes, all of the "missing" bass and stereo effect is here for all to savor and enjoy. At the time of its original release in 1976, Kaleidoscope Of Rainbows received critical acclaim from a wide spectrum of the day's music critics. Here's a sampling of some reviews:

"This work is possibly the most significant piece of composition since - what? Sgt Pepper? Pet Sounds? Gil Evans' Miles Ahead? Tubular Bells? Its beauty and superb sense of structure will mark it out, in no uncertain terms as one of the great musical achievements of our age." - Karl Dallas, Melody Maker "The brisk alternation of moods and textures keeps the listener on the edge of his seat...stunning variety." - Dave Gelly, The Observer "It's made to be savoured, enjoyed and, maybe, thought about a bit: for within it lies a part of the musical future. Musically, it's superb." - Derek Jewell, The Sunday Times

:::Reviews from acousticsounds.com:::

Neil Ardley - Kaleidoscope of Rainbows (1976)

A1. Prologue
A2. Rainbow 1 (Saxophones, Flute - Stan Sulzmann)
A3. Rainbow 2
A4. Rainbow 3 (Soloist Paul Buckmaster)
A5. Rainbow 4
B1. Rainbow 5 (Soloist Tony Coe)
B2. Rainbow 6 (Electric Piano & Synthesizer - John Taylor)
B3. Rainbow 7 (Soloist Ken Shaw and Bob Bertles, Electric Piano & Synthesizer - John Taylor)
B4. Epilogue

Credits
Bass - Roger Sutton
Cello [Acoustic, Electric] - Paul Buckmaster
Conductor, Synthesizer - Neil Ardley
Drums - Roger Sellers
Electric Piano, Synthesizer - Dave MacRae (tracks: A1 to B1, B4) , Geoff Castle
Guitar - Ken Shaw
Percussion, Vibraphone - Trevor Tomkins
Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Flute - Barbara Thompson (tracks: A1, A3 to B4) , Bob Bertles
Saxophone [Tenor, Soprano], Flute, Flute [Alto] - Brian Smith
Saxophone [Tenor], Clarinet, Clarinet [Bass] - Tony Coe
Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Ian Carr