Haiku Liner notes

(educational purposes only)

For many years the brilliant composer, jazz instrumentalist, film scorer ("FRENCH CONNECTION") and big-band leader, Don Ellis, has wanted to record a lyrical album of instrumental songs featuring a string orchestra, rhythm section, and trumpet. When the chance arose for Don to do such an album, author and friend Jerry Anderson suggested using Haiku poetry as an inspiration. Don, who had enjoyed Haiku for many years, immediately responded to this idea. The result is this unique album of extraordinarily beautiful musical reflections on Don's favorite Haiku poems.

Haiku is the ancient Japanese art of evoking the emotional content of a past moment through a tightly structured poem - written in three lines and 17 syllables (5-7-5). The moment described usually takes place in nature and often works as a metaphor for a situation in human life.

These songs are meant to be listened to while contemplating the Haiku poems.

The music in "HAIKU" is at once lush and spare, jazz and classical, joyously high and deeply tender, avant-garde and evocative of an ancient past.

This is an unprecedented album in which Don Ellis creates a new place into which music - and thoughts - can flow. It is deeply moving in its poignant beauty, like its namesake ... Haiku.

Children (Issa)

Spring. Snow melts and the
village is overflowing -
with little children.

Blossoming (Ransetsu)

Plum tree blossoming
blossom by blossom - so too
the warmth of spring comes.

Water Jewel (Basho)

Camelia petal
falls in silent dawn and spills
a water jewel.

Cherry Petals (Sadaiye)

Cherry petals fall
fluttering together - and
in pursuit, the storm!

Forest (Onitsura)

Cooling comes the breeze
and the sky fills with whispers
- tall pines and cedars.

Summer Rain (Issa)

Sudden summer rain
and naked I am riding
on a naked horse.

Two Autumns (Buson)

For me who leaves and
for you who stays, the seasons
will bring two autumns

Mirror-Pond of Stars (Sora)

Mirror-pond at night
sudden ripples of laughter
a summer shower.

Parting (Basho)

Slowly, the bee comes
from deep within peonies
- with such reluctance!

Dew (Issa)

Dew evaporates:
all our world becomes dew...
so dear and fragile.