Impulse Records
Discover Jazz: The Great Jazz Labels
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54m
About This Program
Jazz history, live performance, and lively conversation make Discover Jazz the most distinctive jazz appreciation course available for adults. Each series includes stellar live performances by critically acclaimed guest artists, curated examples of historically significant recordings, and engaging Q&A.
From Atlantic and Blue Note to Impulse, Prestige, Verve and many others, these iconic record labels produced some of the world’s greatest jazz recordings and documented decades of the musical lexicon for fans around the globe. In this Discover Jazz series, guitarist, bandleader and educator Terrence Brewer guides us on a nostalgic look back at some of the greatest jazz albums of all time.
For our final class in the series, Brewer and friends shared the importance of the Impulse! label in cementing John Coltrane’s artistic vision and prolific compositional output, as well as highlighting innovative artists who pushed jazz into new territory, including legendary figures Ahmad Jamal, Oliver Nelson and Ray Charles. The musical selections for this program cover a range of critically acclaimed artists and albums recorded between 1961 and 1970, noting the label’s expansion into more contemporary genres and its use of the tagline, “The New Wave in Jazz.” The excellent ensemble features Natalie John on trumpet and vocals, James Mahone on tenor sax, Tim Campbell on piano, Gary Brown on bass, Deszon Claiborne on drums, and Brewer on guitar.
SET LIST
“Wave” by Antônio Carlos Jobim, as recorded by Ahmad Jamal The Awakening (1970)
“In a Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington Duke Ellington and John Coltrane (1963)
“Stolen Moments” by Oliver Nelson The Blues and the Abstract Truth (1961)
“I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town” by William “Casey Bill” Weldon, as recorded by Ray Charles Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961)
“One Mint Julep” by Rudy Toombs, as recorded by Ray Charles Genius + Soul = Jazz (1961)
PERSONNEL
Natalie John vocals and trumpet
James Mahone tenor sax
Tim Campbell piano
Gary Brown bass
Deszon Claiborne drums
Terrence Brewer guitar, presenter