Rainbow Gladiator

Rainbow Gladiator is an album by the American jazz violinist Billy Bang, recorded in 1981 and released on the Italian Soul Note label.^[1]

Rainbow Gladiator
Studio album by Billy Bang Quintet
Released	1981
Recorded	June 10 & 11, 1981
Genre	Jazz
Length	37:11
Label	Soul Note
Billy Bang chronology
Sweet Space (1979) Rainbow Gladiator (1981) Untitled Gift (1982)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[4]
Tom Hull – on the Web	A−[5]

The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 4 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow called it "a good introduction to his music for those who have an open mind toward adventurous jazz".^[2]

The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings awarded the album a full 4 stars, calling it "a terrific record, bright, percussive and packed with ideas."^[3]

Critic Tom Hull assigned the album a rating of "A−", commenting: "the interplay is exhilarating more often than not."^[5]

Robert Spencer of All About Jazz described the album as "expansive and warm," "one of Billy Bang's best recordings," and praised the title track, calling it "the brilliant, good-humored jewel of the disc."^[6]

Track listing

All compositions by Billy Bang

1. "Rainbow Gladiator" - 14:19
2. "Ebony Minstrel Man" - 4:16
3. "New York After Dark" - 7:20
4. "Broken Strings" - 2:44
5. "Yaa - Woman Born on Thursday" - 5:09
6. "Bang's Bounce" - 3:23

• Recorded at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy on June 10 & 11, 1981

Personnel

• Billy Bang - violin
• Charles Tyler - alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
• Michele Rosewoman – piano
• Wilber Morris – bass
• Dennis Charles – drums