Heard on Impulse!: Ten Impulse Records Releases You Must Own - Page 4

Author: Michael J. West — Published: Jul 02, 2006 at 9:28 pm 7 comments

 1) A Love Supreme, John Coltrane (1964) - Was there ever any doubt as to what Number One would be? Trane's magnum opus remains, after more than forty years, staggering. It is dense, challenging, overwhelming, and exhausting, but it's also quite possibly the most exhilarating piece of music ever recorded — even more than Beethoven's Ninth. A Love Supreme is a sonic monument to God, one that will make the most hardened atheist look into the sky and smile.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins (1962) and Further Definitions, Benny Carter (1961). The least avant-garde recordings on this list, and that's the best thing about them: here are three giants who epitomize the Duke's favorite compliment, "beyond category." Ellington and Bean were a part of jazz from its youth to its maturity, as was Carter (who was only slightly less important than the former two), yet no matter what the era around them, they always sounded fresh and modern. And that, folks, is what we call "timeless."

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Article Author: Michael J. West

Michael J. West is a writer, editor, and dilettante jazz critic in Washington, D.C. In addition to BlogCritics, he writes for JazzTimes, Washington City Paper, and AllAboutJazz.com. He occasionally writes at Pop Musicology, too. He's very cute. …

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  • A Love Supreme A Love Supreme
    Release date: 2003-08-19
    Publisher: Impulse Records

    A Love Supreme is a suite about redemption, a work of pure spirit and song, that encapsulates all the struggles and aspirations of the 1960s. Following hard on the heels of the lyrical, swinging Crescent, ...

  • The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady The Black Saint & The Sinner Lady
    Release date: 1995-11-07
    Publisher: Grp Records

    This 1963 recording occupies a special place in Mingus's work, his most brilliantly realized extended composition. The six-part suite is a broad canvas for the bassist's tumultuous passions, ranging ...

  • Love Cry Love Cry
    Release date: 1991-10-15
    Publisher: Grp Records
  • Out of the Cool Out of the Cool
    Release date: 1996-03-26
    Publisher: Grp Records

    Recorded after Gil Evans provided the orchestral clouds through which Miles Davis blew on such classics as Sketches of Spain, Porgy and Bess, and Miles Ahead, Out of the Cool is a starburst. ...

  • The Blues and the Abstract Truth The Blues and the Abstract Truth
    Release date: 1995-08-15
    Publisher: Grp Records

    Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008.

  • Journey in Satchidananda Journey in Satchidananda
    Release date: 1997-03-25
    Publisher: Grp Records

    Japan exclusive remastered reissue packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve. Impulse. 2004.

  • East Broadway Run Down East Broadway Run Down
    Release date: 1995-08-15
    Publisher: Grp Records
  • Attica Blues Attica Blues
    Release date: 2003-03-11
    Publisher: Umvd Labels
  • Space Is the Place Space Is the Place
    Release date: 1998-03-10
    Publisher: Grp Records
  • Liberation Music Orchestra Liberation Music Orchestra
    Release date: 1996-03-26
    Publisher: Grp Records
  • Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins
    Release date: 1995-10-24
    Publisher: Grp Records

    Part of the Impulse Best 50! Series. Japanese exclusive 24-bit 96khz digitally remastered reissue. Packaged in a limited edition miniature LP sleeve.

  • Further Definitions Further Definitions
    Release date: 1997-04-08
    Publisher: Grp Records
  • The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records
    by Ashley Kahn
    Book: 352 pages
    Publisher: W. W. Norton

Article comments

  • 1 - Mark Saleski

    Jul 02, 2006 at 10:56 pm

    interesting list. i just picked up Attica Blues a few months ago. it sort of reminded me of a jazz version of Parliament.

    A Love Supreme: killer. one of those records you can never tire of.

  • 2 - Michael J. West

    Jul 02, 2006 at 11:02 pm

    A jazz version of Parliament, that's good! I had thought of it more like a free version of On the Corner.

  • 3 - Bliffle

    Jul 03, 2006 at 1:05 am

    I must confess that I've never found coltrane listenable: reminds me of my own miserable practice sessions before I gave up the sax. Sold "love supreme" CD ten years ago in a garage sale.

  • 4 - Michael J. West

    Jul 03, 2006 at 1:27 am

    I must confess that I've never found coltrane listenable

    I hope you're not religious, Bliffle, because I'm preety sure calling Trane "unlistenable" carries mandatory time in Hell.

  • 5 - Stephen V Funk

    Jul 05, 2006 at 12:52 pm

    I know it's sacrilege, but I think if I could have only one John Coltrane Impulse! album it would be "Crescent"....

  • 6 - Michael J. West

    Jul 05, 2006 at 1:07 pm

    Sacrilege, yes, but understandable. Hell, my one Coltrane Impulse! album might actually be Ascension. (Bliffle, if you thought A Love Supreme was unlistenable....)

  • 7 - godoggo

    Jul 05, 2006 at 7:44 pm

    My choice would be Stellar Regions. I'm weird.

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