The John Betsch Society's Earth Blossom (1974) stands as a luminous gem in the realm of spiritual jazz. Released on the esteemed Strata-East label, this sole album from the ensembleled by drummer John Betschmelds free jazz improvisation with Afrocentric rhythms and modal harmonies. The seven-track collection features compositions by various band members, including Bob Holmes, Billy Puett, and Jim Bridges, resulting in a rich tapestry of sonic exploration. From the vibrant opener "Ode to Ethiopia" to the contemplative "Darling Doria," the album traverses a spectrum of moods, all anchored by Betsch's dynamic percussion.

Reviews

One of the rarest examples of advanced-jazz... a long-lost and just-unearthed gem that should not be filed too far away from Trane and Pharoah or even Lonnie Liston-Smiths album. JazzMusicArchives

A beautiful session of spiritual soul jazz... the tracks have a soaring sort of sound... a great blend that really brings a lot of depth to the session. Dusty Groove

Musically, the seven petal songs on 'Earth Blossom' transform into free jazz with plenty of percussion rainmakers and appropriately atmospheric saxophone interludes, sometimes warm to serene, sometimes cool and stormy. HHV Mag

The strong roots of sonic spirituality, familiar to us from musicians such as Alice Coltrane or Sun Ra, carry the whole work securely through all kinds of weather. HHV Mag

The title track could come from a Mwandishi album, but you can also hear that he was under the Trane-crowd influence and had a solid flower-power slant as well. JazzMusicArchives

A1 Ode To Ethiopia
A2 Earth Blossom
A3 Open Pastures
A4 Song For An Untitled Lady
B1 Ra
B2 Darling Doria
B3 Get Up And Go