VINYL PACKAGE OF THE MONTH

Various

Impulse! Records: Music, Message And The Moment

IMPULSE!

RIGHT FROM its inception in 1961 as the jazz imprint of ABC/ Paramount Records, a wellheeled major pop label, Impulse! had the creative mindset of an independent record company. Initially founded by producer

Creed

Taylor, Impulse! evolved under his successors (Bob Thiele and Ed Michel) into an entity that became synonymous with musical revolution, spiritual enlightenment, Afrocentrism, and sociopolitical commentary during a turbulent time in American history. Those themes resonate deeply in the grooves of the 25 tracks on Music, Message And The Moment, a 4-LP set celebrating the iconic jazz label’s 60th anniversary. Ranging from the spiritual exaltations of the Coltranes (John and Alice) to the astral travels of Pharoah Sanders and the earthbound, bluesy soul-jazz of organist Shirley Scott and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, the retrospective takes the listener on an exhilarating journey through varied sonic landscapes. The aesthetically pleasing package includes two magazinestyle booklets and a vinyl slip mat. Charles Waring