Almost a collection, Impressions contains material from 1961-1963. Two of the tracks are from his great 1961 residency at the New York Village Vanguard ("India" and "Impressions") and feature the magnificent Eric Dolphy. The remaining trio of tracks are studio dates. However despite the different recordings of time and place and with a variety of personnel, there is unity to the album with Coltrane's sound straddling the gentler music of then recent albums (Ballads for example) and his melodic searching, which would reach one of his (many) land mark peaks with A Love Supreme a year after the recording of "After the Rain" and "Dear Old Stockholm". "After the Rain" in fact stands as not only the best track on Impressions but as one of his most moving and eloquent ballads he ever recorded. And he recorded quite a few! This album is a great introduction to this period, aided by a well-produced booklet. For those more acquainted with Coltrane, this is a worthy addition to the CD collection. --Phil Brett
「LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD」の姉妹盤ではあるが、ライヴ演奏はTRACK1,3のみであとは「穴埋め」のスタジオ録音。ハイライトは何と言っても1の「インディア」。エルヴィンのシンバルが4小節続いたあとジミー・ギャリソンとレジー・ワークマンのベースがスピーカーの左右から「ボボン、ボボン」と飛び出てきて、トレーンのソプラノに続いてドルフィーのバスクラのテーマが始まる様子は本当にスリリング。もちろん2人のソロはコテコテにアツイがドルフィーのワイルドさに軍配を上げたい。おそらくこの時期にラヴィ・シャンカールのシタール演奏に衝撃を受けたトレーンには「インド衝動」みたいなものがあったのかも知れない。3の「インプレッションズ」も、トレーンがテナーを15分間吹きまくる力作。その他の「穴埋め」も静かで美しい曲ばかりで、一服の清涼剤としての効果大。