Kaleidoscope of Rainbows
This work, recorded in 1976, completed a trilogy begun with The Greek Variations and continued with A Symphony of Amaranths. All of these works are based on a sequence of notes that provide the foundation for composition and improvisation; Kaleidoscope of Rainbows uses the five-note scale of Balinese gamelan music and has been seen as an early example of world music. It is a fully-fledged piece of jazz composition and the work is, in The Essential Jazz Records, judged as one of the 500 best albums in the entire history of jazz and one of very few British works to be included. It is notable for its "elliptical, emotional tunes" [The Guardian] and a ravishing saxophone solo by Barbara Thompson. This CD also includes an electronic work called Intimate Vistas that dates from 1980 and was never released, and a reworking of part of Kaleidoscope of Rainbows called Refracted Rainbow by Zyklus and recorded in 1991.
Tracks [Total time 76.26]
Kaleidoscope of Rainbows : Intimate Vistas : Refracted Rainbow
Personnel
Kaleidoscope of Rainbows
Neil Ardley (director, synthesizer) : Ian Carr (trumpet, flugelhorn) : Barbara Thompson, Tony Coe, Brian Smith, Bob Bertles (saxophone, woodwind) : Paul Buckmaster (cello) : Ken Shaw (guitar) : Geoff Castle, Dave McRae or John Taylor (electric piano, synthesizer) : Roger Sutton (bass guitar) : Roger Sellers (drums) : Trevor Tomkins (percussion)
Intimate Vistas
Neil Ardley, Richard Burgess (synthesizers)
Refracted Rainbow
Neil Ardley, Warren Greveson, John L. Walters (synthesizers) : Ian Carr (trumpet, flugelhorn)
Produced by Martin Levan
