The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records is a four-disc set, compiled and annotated by author Ashley Kahn who wrote the book of the same name being published concurrently with its release. Impulse's great run was between 1961 and 1976 -- a period of 15 years that ushered in more changes in jazz than at any other point in the music's history. Impulse began recording in the last weeks of 1960, with Ray Charles, Kai Windig /J.J. Johnson, and Gil Evans. While Impulse experimented with 45s 33 1/3 EPs, cassettes, and reel to reel tapes later in its existence, it was--and this set focuses on-- it was the music on its LPs (with distinct orange and black packaging in gatefold sleeves containing copious notes) that helped to set them apart. Impulse was dedicated to ushering in the new and controversial, but also sought to showcase established artists from the tradition (maintaining the jazz lineage) who continued to work and develop. While the label is certainly associated more closely with John Coltrane than any other of its artists (Coltrane also acted as an ad hoc A&R man), it nonetheless established and forwarded the careers of dozens of jazzers.
CD1:
01. Gil Evans - Where Flamingos Fly (5:15)
02. Oliver Nelson - Stolen Moments (8:49)
03. John Coltrane - Greensleeves (10:01)
04. Art Blakey - A la Mode (6:50)
05. Benny Carter - Honeysuckle Rose (3:54)
06. Count Basie - Trey of Hearts (3:46)
07. Coleman Hawkins - Samba para Bean (5:29)
08. John Coltrane - Too Young to Go Steady (4:24)
09. Roy Haynes - Snap Crackle (4:13)
10. Freddie Hubbard - Chocolate Shake (4:00)
11. John Coltrane - Impressions (4:37)
12. Charles Mingus - Theme for Lester Young (aka 'Goodbye Pork Pie Hat') (5:50)
CD2:
01. John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman - My One and Only Love (4:58)
02. Paul Gonsalves & Sonny Stitt - Salt and Pepper (7:53)
03. Chico Hamilton - Forest Flower (10:38)
04. McCoy Tyner - T 'n' A Blues (4:07)
05. Ben Webster - Someone to Watch over Me (4:31)
06. Yusef Lateef - Sister Mamie (5:30)
07. John Coltrane - A Love Supreme Part 1: Acknowledgement (7:46)
08. Shirley Scott & Stanley Turrentine - Rapid Shave (8:31)
09. Archie Shepp - Los Olvidados (8:57)
10. Pee Wee Russell - Ask Me Now! (2:29)
CD3:
01. Earl Hines - Black and Tan Fantasy (5:15)
02. Sonny Rollins - Alfie's Theme (9:46)
03. Clark Terry & Chico O'Farrill - Spanish Rice (2:47)
04. Archie Shepp - Mama Too Tight (5:26)
05. Gabor Szabo - Gypsy Queen (5:14)
06. Chico Hamilton - Larry of Arabia (5:13)
07. Albert Ayler - Our Prayer (4:49)
08. John Coltrane - Offering (8:28)
09. Alice Coltrane - Journey in Satchidananda (6:38)
10. Charlie Haden - War Orphans (6:43)
CD4:
01. Ahmad Jamal - Stolen Moments (6:31)
02. Pharoah Sanders - The Creator Has a Master Plan (32:50)
03. Gato Barbieri - India (8:58)
04. Keith Jarrett - The Rich (And the Poor) (9:27)
05. John Handy - Hard Work (7:00)
06. Alice Coltrane - Walk with Me (7:50)
