Any Coltrane LP on Impulse! will offer the listener some very special jazz. These are classic albums. I’m aiming to collect quite a few more. This one is “Impressions”, and it features both live takes and studio recordings spanning about one and a half years. Outside of the the classic Coltrane quartet, three other cats are featured. On the first tune “India”, Eric Dolphy plays the bass clarinet, which is always a good thing. Reggie Workman also make an appearance on the first tune. On the final tune Roy Haynes plays the drums. All the tunes are great but if I had to choose a favorite it would probably be the ferocious title track. It’s a brilliant display of improvisational prowess. Of course, “India” is very engaging as well. I love Coltrane’s playing on this and Eric Dolphy really brings the music to an even higher plane. The sound on the live takes feels quite natural. It feels like you sit there in the club with the band in front of you. It’s not perfect by any means. It just feels honest.
Like I said, this is a classic and I’m very happy to have been able to find it. These original first pressing Impulse! titles are not entirely easy to find. But, they are at least a bit cheaper than many original Blue Notes and Prestige titles for example. I guess they have risen in value quite a bit in recent years though. This particular copy was not cheap. I feel Impulse! is just as important as Blue Note, Prestige or Riverside. The label promoted new exciting paths for jazz, going into the future.
Questions for my readers: If we’re talking important record labels that helped shape modern jazz, do you have a favorite? Of all the recorded live material featuring Coltrane as a leader, which albums or tunes stand out to you the most?
Feels like spring is here in Stockholm and I’m happy to spend some relaxing days now together with my family over Easter. I hope you guys will have a nice Easter and keep safe. Stay tuned for more great titles from my shelves, cheers!