Originally released in 1963, Impressions; captures John Coltranes expanding musical vision. Blending jazz modality with influences from Indian music, blues, and even a Swedish folk song, the album showcases Coltranes emotive range and groundbreaking style. It features both live and studio recordings, spanning an eighteen-month period that marked his evolution as an artist. The live tracks were recorded in November 1961 at the Village Vanguard, during the sessions that produced the iconic Live at the Village Vanguard album. Here, Coltranes classic quartetMcCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drumsis joined by saxophonist Eric Dolphy and bassist Reggie Workman. Dolphys bass clarinet solo on India and Workmans droning bass lines add a deep, Indian-inspired texture to the performance. The nearly fifteen-minute title track, recorded in the studio, spotlights Coltranes powerful soloing. In his five-star DownBeat-review, critic Harvey Pekar noted that, while not every moment on the album is perfect, some passages are more than excellent. The albums influence even reached rock music, with The Byrds drawing direct inspiration from Impressions for their 1965 single Eight Miles High.
impressions