Impulse! · in the Kissa Kissa racks
Africa/Brass
| Recorded | May 23 & Jun 7, 1961 |
|---|---|
| Label | Impulse! |
| Released | 1961 |
| Personnel | 19 credited players |
| Discogs | master 37337 |
The record
Coltrane's Impulse! debut, with Eric Dolphy's dense brass-and-woodwind arrangements swelling behind him -- Elvin Jones churning underneath as the quartet format opens into modal orchestral scale. "Greensleeves" and the title track show Coltrane reaching past the small-group frame without losing its urgency.
Session personnel
- Eric Dolphy — alto saxophone, flute, bass clarinet, conductor
- Pat Patrick — baritone saxophone
- Art Davis — bass
- Reggie Workman — bass
- Elvin Jones — drums
- Carl Bowman — euphonium
- Charles Greenlee — euphonium
- Julian Priester — euphonium
- Donald Corrado — french horn
- Jim Buffington — french horn
- Julius Watkins — french horn
- Robert Northern — french horn
- Robert Swisshelm — french horn
- McCoy Tyner — piano
- Garvin Bushell — piccolo flute, reeds
- John Coltrane — soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
- Booker Little — trumpet
- Freddie Hubbard — trumpet
- Bill Barber — tuba
Contemporary reception
The intensive probing, searching Coltrane sax style reaches a high point in the 16½ minute (all of side one) “Africa,” in which the quintet achieves a Mingus-like fury of neatly thought-out abandon. It’s a wild thing with Coltrane standing out as a giant on his instrument. This same idea is carried out in the two tracks on side two, “Greensleeves” and “Blues Minor.” Interest abounds here.
Pressings
Mono and stereo both date to 1961 here: Impulse! A-6 in mono, gatefold, with an RVG stamp, and A-6-S in stereo, which is the earliest row on file. A third 1961 stereo is catalogued simply as Stereo A-6, also gatefold with an RVG stamp. Period overseas copies include UK His Master's Voice CSD 1431 and Japanese Impulse! NY 3 mono and SNY 3 stereo, the Japanese stereo deep groove with a laminated sleeve. Modern: Speakers Corner AS-6 on 180 gram, 2006.
Showing the first pressing, audiophile reissues and copies carrying a collector marker, out of 106 pressings on file.
| 1961 | Impulse! · A-6 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Gatefold earliest on file · RVG stamp; gatefold |
|---|---|
| 1961 | Impulse! · SNY 3 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo · deep groove; laminated sleeve |
| 1961 | Impulse! · Stereo A-6 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1961 | Impulse! · IL-30,700 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo, Mono · RVG stamp |
| 1963 | Impulse! · A-6 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1963 | Impulse! · A-6 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1973 | Impulse! · IMP-88090 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1973 | Impulse! · IMP-88090 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1976 | Impulse! · YS-8501-AI — Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1980 | MCA Records · VIM-4609 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, Gatefold · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1980 | MCA Records · VIM-4609 — Vinyl, LP, Album, Promo, Reissue · RVG stamp; gatefold |
| 1987 | Impulse! · 32XD-589 — CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered · RVG stamp |
| 1987 | Impulse! · 254 638-2 — CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered · RVG stamp |
| 1993 | Impulse! · MVCI-23090 — CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered · RVG stamp |
Follow the players
Eric Dolphy also plays on
Pat Patrick also plays on
Art Davis also plays on