The Elysian Spring

Super rare, and of holy grail proportions, here is Glass Flowers. Beautifully remastered and digitized for enhanced sonic pleasures.

Wise words from Re-release :

The history of Elysian Spring is as eclectic and unusual as the music they made. When the summer of love was gripping the west coast, the group was busy creating a sound based on pure improvisation. The members were inspired by the classic jazz of Brubeck and Adderley, and also sound of early new age music from Rainer’s trip to Berkeley. They quite literally would practice in the fields in Western MA. This openness helped the group evolve while keeping it separate from the frequently stale and clinical school-based jazz in the surrounding.

The original liner notes by Andy Haigh are striking in their honesty. Like good jazz, they ask more questions than they give solid answers. For the sound of Elysian Spring is in questioning, considering, and evaluating possibilities. This must be a meaningful album, because nearly 40 years later the music is still startlingly fresh.

Trickles of classic Blue Note bop can be heard throughout “Glass Flowers – a solid-grooving soul-jazz feel predominates “2 & 2” – but overall the album is full of the kind of deft choices that only happen when musicians give themselves over to improvisation. This experimentation is most papable on the Gilles Peterson favorite “Blue Sands,” a modal song in 4/4. The theme is carried by the guitar in an unusual way for the late 60s, and is the audio equivalent of a soothing balm.

“Lotus” is another song that stands out for its unusual instrumentation of two flutes. To achieve the tones he desired, Bertrams frequently disassembled his flute mid-performance and used his hand as an extension of the instrument. This track is to be included on a recent compilation on BBE Records called Super Heavy Jazz, but the only place to get the full album is right here.

Musicians

Rainer Bertrams – Piano, vibraphone, flute

Bruce Krasin – Saxophone, flute

Lenny Ezbicki – Drums, guitar

Jim Bridges – Guitar, bass

Merliani – Trumpet/flugelhorn, bass

Costello – Guitar on “7th Sea”

Notes

The self-titled album was here retitled “Glass Flowers” by Rainer Bertrams to more accurately reflect the music’s true nature.

Engineered by Art McLain

Recorded by John Wojciak

Photos by Ric Steliga