The John Betsch Society – Earth Blossom

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 ensemble—led by drummer John Betsch—melds 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-Smith’s 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 ​