Top tracks — play these first
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Water Jewels — This track features intricate time signatures and shimmering brass arrangements that encapsulate the album's ethereal theme and showcase Ellis's compositional prowess.
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Blossoming — With its lush strings and dynamic shifts, this piece exemplifies the merging of orchestral depth with jazz improvisation characteristic of Ellis's style.
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Two Autumns — The track captures a sense of transition through its rich harmonies and complex rhythms, reflecting the changing seasons both musically and thematically.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalHaiku showcases intricate arrangements and a unique fusion of jazz and orchestral elements, making it distinct within its genre.
What we noticed
- Each piece is structured around a central theme, with improvisational sections that allow for dynamic interplay among musicians.
- The first half of the album maintains a serene, flowing pace, while the latter half introduces more varied tempos and rhythmic complexity.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- evocative nature-inspired soundscapes
- brief yet immersive listening experience
- gentle transitions and delicate arrangements
- reflective moments of quiet beauty
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy engagement
- prefer straightforward, catchy tunes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in early 1974, Haiku was Don Ellis's fifth studio album, following his breakthrough with the innovative album Electric Bath. By this time, Ellis had established himself as a pioneer in big band jazz, blending traditional elements with avant-garde techniques and electronic instrumentation, showcasing his artistic evolution.
- Stylistic neighbors
- George Russell· Thad Jones· Buddy Rich
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Children 3:18
- 2 Blossoming 3:55
- 3 Water Jewels 5:23
- 4 Cherry Petals 2:50
- 5 Forest 3:25
- 6 Summer Rain 2:24
- 7 Two Autumns 4:59
- 8 Mirror-Pond of Stars 3:24
- 9 Parting 6:13
- 10 Dew 1:29
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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