Kaleidoscope of Rainbows

Whenever modern jazz lovers got together to discuss the albums theyd most love to see reissued, Neil Ardleys Kaleidoscope of Rainbows was seldom far from someones mind. Originally released in 1976 and promptly proclaimed a landmark of British jazz-rock (Melody Maker termed it "one of the great musical achievements of our age"), Kaleidoscope of Rainbows drew in contributions from Ian Carr, Tony Coe, Dave MacRae, and Barbara Thompson, the very cream of what was then an astonishingly vibrant jazz scene, and it was as beautiful as its ingredients demanded. This reissue was timed to coincide with a memorial service for Ardley following the composers death in February 2004 and, while it packs nothing in the way of bonus tracks, the remastering of its seven original tracks opens the entire album up to new appreciation. Sandwiched by the twin epics "Prologue/Rainbow One" and "Rainbow Seven" (all the tracks are numerically titled variations), the music wanders from gentle melody and rhythm to some startling wind passages, with "Rainbow Three" toying with rock passages, "Rainbow Five" nodding towards tribal percussives, and "Rainbow Six" tinkling with almost pastoral serenity. Certainly there are few albums that can offer so much variety within one single, well-defined framework; and, with Kaleidoscope of Rainbows appearing as monumental today as it did upon its original release, the accolades that accompanied it can only be restated too. It remains "one of the great musical achievements of our age." ~ Dave Thompson