2020 studio album by Ron Miles
| Rainbow Sign | ||||
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| Studio album by Ron Miles | ||||
| Released | October 9, 2020 (2020-10-09) | |||
| Recorded | 2019 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 69:50 | |||
| Language | Instrumental | |||
| Label | Blue Note | |||
| Producer |
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| Ron Miles chronology | ||||
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Rainbow Sign is a studio album containing original compositions by American jazz musician Ron Miles on the label Blue Note Records. Released on October 9, 2020 to positive critical reviews, it is Miles' final studio album, coming two years prior to his death in March 2022.
Recording
The album was recorded in mid-2018 during a period when Miles was caring for his dying father. The sessions reunited him with the musicians who played on his previous album I Am a Man, including longtime collaborator Bill Frisell on guitar and drummer Brian Blade.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| All About Jazz |   |
| AllMusic |  |
| DownBeat | |
| Financial Times | |
| Jazz Journal | |
| Jazzwise | |
| PopMatters | 8⁄10 |
| The Times | |
The editorial staff of AllMusic Guide gave the album four out of five stars, with reviewer Thom Jurek noting how Miles blends "polytonal modal music, blues, gospel, post-bop, and pop". The site also included it in the best jazz albums of 2020. Kevin Whitehead of Fresh Air praises the dream-like quality of the musicians and their ability to work together to realize Miles' music and he notes the influence of pop music. In The Times, Chris Pearson gave the album four out of five stars, also pointing out the interplay of the musicians. Writing in Financial Times, Mike Hobart also scored Rainbow Sign four out of five stars for the "clean lines, close-knit interplay and an understated pulse" on the album.
Track listing
All songs written by Ron Miles
- "Like Those Who Dream" – 15:56
- "Queen of the South" – 4:20
- "Average" – 11:12
- "Rainbow Sign" – 7:08
- "The Rumor" – 4:30
- "Custodian of the New" – 7:49
- "This Old Man" – 6:57
- "Binder" – 6:01
- "A Kind Word" – 5:57
Personnel
- Ron Miles – cornet, band leader, production
- Brian Blade – drums
- Bill Frisell – guitar
- Jason Moran – piano, photography
- Thomas Morgan – double bass
Technical personnel
- Lurah Blade – photography
- Colin Bricker – engineering, mixing, production
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Monica Frisell – photography
- Todd Gallopo – art direction, design
- Thomas Krebs – photography
- Kevin Lee – assistance
- Owen Mulholland – assistance
- Hans Wendl – project management
See also
References
- ^ Jurek, Thom (n.d.). "Ron Miles – Rainbow Sign". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- ^ Whitehead, Kevin (November 4, 2020). "Cornet Player Ron Miles Embraces His Pop Influences on Rainbow Sign". Fresh Air. NPR. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- Rauch, Paul (5 January 2021). "Ron Miles: Rainbow Sign album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Considine, J.D. "Ron Miles Rainbow Sign (Blue Note)". DownBeat. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
- ^ Hobart, Mike (October 16, 2020). "Ron Miles: Rainbow Sign – Gently Undulating Jazz Soundscapes". Financial Times. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- Atkins, Ronald (9 February 2021). "Ron Miles: Rainbow Sign". Jazz Journal. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Hasted, Nick. "Ron Miles: Rainbow Sign". Jazzwise. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Layman, Will (12 November 2020). "Ron Miles' 'Rainbow Sign' Is Quietly Fantastic, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Pearson, Chris (October 9, 2020). "Ron Miles: Rainbow Sign Review – Trumpeter Explores Renewal and Resistance with a Starry Quintet". The Times. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
- "Favorite Jazz Albums". AllMusic 2020 in Review. AllMusic. RhythmOne. n.d. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
External links
- Official website
- Rainbow Sign at Discogs (list of releases)
- Rainbow Sign at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- Entry at Jazz Music Archives
| Ron Miles | |
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| Studio albums |
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