Guitar and Violin

Flying Bird Brings Message is an unpolished gem. Originally designed to be an 'in-between' album for limited release, it became a full fledged release after we got tired of making 'a hundred at a time' when our small runs kept selling out. Now, for sure, when this inventory is sold, it will not be replicated again.

The songs on Flying Bird were fresh from a summer and fall of recording in Spencer's home studio and were important and vital reflections of where his music was at the time. By unpolished we mean, not 'mastered' in a bigger studio as per our last 4 Disc's. It is music in keeping with a style that was last offered as far back as 1995 with the release of Close To Home; very simple productions of violin and guitar - intimate and pure. There is one outtake from Song of Stone that also features Dan Haley on mandolin and Scott Paulson on bass, but other than that, it's Spencer playing all the parts. Spencer recently had acquired a new violin that spring and this new instrument clearly came with vivid inspirations. There are also two recordings made in John Huling's studio in Shaftsbury, VT which became the foundation for future work with John. The proof of that is one Spencer's finest works, Up on the Mountain, produced by John in his studiojust this past year. Yet back in 2003, he was able to capture my venerable Gurian J-B-3 in its deepest and richest form. It was never called it a 'six-string piano' for nothing. Furthermore,these tracks were never meant for release which makes them even more appealing. And finally, the graphic of a piece of paper birch bark, found on my land while simply looking down on the ground, became the cover. So here it is, finally a 'limited edition' and at the timewas my 15th CD in 15 years: Flying Bird Brings Message. (title taken from the writings of the IChing)