Following the path of its star musician John Coltrane, Impulse Records cut a creative swath through the 1960s and 1970s. This volume tells the story of the label, balancing tales of individual passion, artistic vision, and commercial motivation--with nearly one hundred interviews with executives, journalists, producers, and musicians. 120 illustrations.
Noted jazz author Ashley Kahn brings to life the behind-the-scenes story of Impulse Records, one of the most significant record labels in the history of popular music. Kahn mingles engaging stories of corporate politics with insider accounts of music-making and anecdotal takes on particular albums. His history of Impulse is also the story of the genesis of an American art form and the evolution of the record industry through the tumultuous 1960s and will compel readers to seek out this label s masterful albums, says Publishers Weekly in a starred review. Kirkus Reviews calls the book a swinging read, adding that Kahn covers all the aesthetic, business, social, and historical bases with crisp economy. Don t miss the exciting inside scoop behind some of the most enduring masterpieces of jazz "