Description

Rediscover an Amazing Landmark of British Jazz: Neil Ardley’s Kaleidoscope of Rainbows

Neil Ardley Kaleidoscope of Rainbows vinyl reissue (AOR003ST) is a deluxe 2×LP half-speed master from Abbey Road, limited to 1000 copies worldwide

2 LP DELUXE ABBEY ROAD HALF SPEED MASTER

Mastered by Miles Showell

Original Master Tapes used for Half Speed Mastering

12 page heavyweight bound insert with Essay

Analogue October Records proudly presents the definitive vinyl reissue of Neil Ardley’s groundbreaking 1976 album Kaleidoscope of Rainbows. Widely regarded as Ardley’s magnum opus, this transcendent suite blends jazz, classical structures, and modal improvisation into a luminous sonic journey inspired by the colors of the rainbow.

Mastered at Abbey Road Studios

This vinyl reissue of Neil Ardley’s Kaleidoscope of Rainbows was mastered from the original analogue 15ips master tapes and were entrusted to renowned mastering engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, who delivered a half-speed master cut with breathtaking clarity and depth. This meticulous process reveals new dimensions in Ardley’s compositions, unlocking textures and detail that have remained hidden for nearly half a century.

To fully preserve the astonishing dynamics captured on the original tapes, the music has been presented across two LPs, giving the suite the space it needs to breathe. The result is a pressing that brings Ardley’s vision to life with unrivalled presence and nuance.

Deluxe Presentation

Pressed with precision at Record Industry in the Netherlands, this reissue ensures the highest possible fidelity, pressed to perfection. The visual and tactile elements have been crafted with equal care: Selsey Press returns to deliver beautifully printed sleeves and inserts, setting a new benchmark for our reissues.

Lovingly produced from the ground up by Craig Crane, this edition makes use of the original four sheets of CMYK film elements for the sleeve art — no scans, no shortcuts. Eighteen months in the making, every detail has been approached with the utmost dedication. This reissue not only expands the Analogue October Records catalogue but continues the label’s momentum, spurred on by the white-hot reviews of our first two reissues from both the audiophile community and the wider music press.

Inside, you’ll find a lavish 12-page insert that expands the experience into a magazine-style chronicle of the album. Jazzwise editor Mike Flynn provides an authoritative essay tracing the history and significance of Kaleidoscope of Rainbows. In addition, Miles Showell contributes his own reflections on the half-speed mastering process, detailing both the artistry and the challenges of working with magnetic tapes that have survived nearly fifty years.

The Music

Commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain, Kaleidoscope of Rainbows was first taken on tour in 1975, culminating in a landmark performance at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall later that year. Following the tour, Neil Ardley reworked the material to better suit a studio setting, shaping the suite into its definitive form. The album was then recorded at London’s Morgan Studios, engineered by Martin Levan, and released in 1976 on the legendary independent label Gull Records.

Structured around the seven colors of the rainbow, Ardley’s suite creates a musical spectrum that shifts seamlessly between pastoral beauty, explosive improvisation, and cosmic exploration.

The recording brought together a remarkable ensemble:

• Ian Carr – trumpet, flugelhorn

• Barbara Thompson, Tony Coe, Brian Smith, Bob Bertles – saxophones and woodwind

• Geoff Castle – keyboards, synthesizers

• Ken Shaw – guitar

• Roger Sutton – bass guitar

• Paul Buckmaster – cello

• Roger Sellers – drums

• Trevor Tomkins – percussion

With Ardley himself at the helm, weaving synthesizer textures into the arrangements, the result is an expansive suite that is both cerebral and deeply emotional — a crowning achievement of 1970s British jazz.

Limited Edition Release

This mid-December release will be available as a strictly limited, hand-numbered edition of 1000 copies worldwide. Expanded to two LPs for maximum dynamics and mastered with meticulous care, it offers the most faithful and revealing presentation of Kaleidoscope of Rainbows ever pressed to vinyl.

To find out more about Neil Ardley, check out www.neilardley.com