As musicians gather throughout the fall to celebrate what would have been John Coltrane's 80th birthday, another landmark shouldn't be forgotten: 2006 also marks the 45th anniversary of Impulse records. In his new book, The House That Trane Built (W.W. Norton & Co.), jazz writer Ashley Kahn traces the conjoined sagas of Coltrane and Impulse. Adorned with the familiar orange and black, the book is a conversational history of the groundbreaking label, tracing its development via the different personalities and approaches of its producers. Throughout, the Impulse story runs on a parallel track with Trane's, as the saxophonist explores uncharted territory with the freedom granted by associating with a label having deep enough pockets and open enough minds to support him. Kahn will discuss his book with Carl Grubbs, the Philly saxophonist whose cousin Naima became Coltrane's first wife and the inspiration for one of his greatest tunes.
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