John Coltrane - Impressions (2016) [Hi-Res]

„One of John Coltrane's great LPs of the early '60s, Impressions might seem like a hodgepodge, with tracks from three different sessions in three different years. The two long tracks--'Impressions' and 'India'--come from Coltrane's November 1961 stand at the Village Vanguard, and together they represent the poles of Coltrane's conception at the time. 'Impressions,' a personal variant of 'So What' that Coltrane had long explored as a member of the Miles Davis quintet, is an uptempo tenor onslaught, a blistering, sustained exploration in which Coltrane and drummer Elvin Jones established new parameters for intensity and sheer physicality. 'India,' a variant on the earlier 'Mr. Knight,' has Coltrane's soprano and Eric Dolphy's bass clarinet keening over two pulsing basses, piano, and drums, pressing jazz toward hypnotic depths. Balancing those extraordinary live performances are more compact studio recordings. 'Up 'Gainst the Wall,' from 1962, is a tautly convoluted blues without piano. 'After the Rain,' a gorgeous original ballad, and 'Dear Old Stockholm' come from a 1963 session when drummer Roy Haynes had temporarily replaced Elvin Jones. The material is also available on the definitive box sets, Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings and Classic Quartet--Complete Impulse! Studio Recordings, but for listeners not ready for those investments, this is a superb portrait of a multifaceted artist.“ (Stuart Broomer)

„Impressions is a hodgepodge of memorable John Coltrane performances from the 1961-1963 period. 'India' and 'Impressions' are taken from Trane's famous November 1961 engagement at the Village Vanguard; bass clarinetist Eric Dolphy is heard on the former while the latter features a marathon solo from Coltrane on tenor. Also included on this set are 1962's 'Up 'Gainst the Wall' and the classic of the album, 1963's 'After the Rain.“ (Scott Yanow, AMG)

John Coltrane, soprano and tenor saxophone
Eric Dolphy, bass clarinet, alto sax (tracks 1 and 3)
McCoy Tyner, piano (exc. track 2)
Jimmy Garrison, double bass
Reggie Workman, double bass (tracks 1 and 3)
Elvin Jones, drums (exc. tracks 4 and 5)
Roy Haynes, drums (tracks 4 and 5)

Recorded November 3, 1961 at Village Vanguard, New York City; September 18, 1962 and April 29, 1963 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs
Produced by Bob Thiele

Digitally remastered