Neil Ardley s wonderful album Harmony of the Spheres . Having moved to London, Ardley studied arranging and composition from 1960 to 1961. He joined the John Williams Big Band as pianist, writing both arrangements and new compositions, and from 1964 to 1970 was the director of the newly-formed New Jazz Orchestra. Neil Ardley developed dual careers in music and in writing and publishing, both of which he continued until his death on 23 February 2004. Ardley based this 1978 album on the ancient idea of the Harmony of the Spheres, the idea that each planet produces a musical note related to its orbit. The album notably features Barbara Thompson and the skilled guitar playing of John Martyn over a rich orchestral sound mixing electronic keyboards with acoustic instruments and voices.

Neil Ardley, arp odyssey and omni synthesizers
John Martyn, rhythm and lead guitar
Billy Kristian, bass
Geoff Castle, keyboards
Richard Burgess, drums and percussion
Barbara Thompson, flute, soprano sax
Tony Coe, clarinet, soprano sax
Ian Carr, trumpet, flügelhorn
Pepsi Iemer, vocals
Norma Winstone, vocals