[1][2][3][4] Rivers moved from New York City to Orlando, Florida, in 1991, and quickly put together a new version of his Rivbea Orchestra, which allowed him to rehearse and present concerts of his works using local, highly-skilled musicians.

[5] Many of the instrumentalists who are featured on Trilogy can also be heard on Aurora, recorded in 1999 and released in 2005 by Rivers's Rivbea Sound Company.

[6] Francis Davis of The Village Voice included the album in his 2011 year-end picks, and praised the live recordings, writing: "Rivers's strategy of solo after solo by every bandmember... blurs the line between composition and improvisation—or do I mean compulsion and improvisation?—in a way that leaves no room for monotony, or doubt as to whose big band this might be.

"[9] In an article for Point of Departure, Ed Hazell described the album as "a major late-career statement" from a musician who "is not merely recycling or refining old ideas, but continuing to explore new ones."

He commented: "These vibrant albums are especially joyful and on the live sessions you can sense how well they communicate their exuberance and fellow feeling to the audience.