Perform MIDI sequence using: QuickTime Plug-in Jazz Plug-in
MIDI Out:
Download track using:
This is a song that John Coltrane played frequently with his Classic Quartet with Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison, and McCoy Tyner.
Coltrane frequently took lengthy solos on this piece which would cause a performance to last for 20 or 30 minutes. The later moments of an Impressions performance often became a saxophone/drum duet between Coltrane and Jones (or Roy Haynes, when he was the drummer) that was conducted at very high intensity.
Impressions is a modal tune, where the harmony doesn't change for large sections of the tune's form.
It has the same harmonic plan as Miles Davis' "So What": 16 bars of Dmi7, 8 bars of Ebmi7, 8 bars of Dmi7.
Soloists use the pitches of the D Dorian mode as their starting point within the Dmi7 measures of the form, and Eb Dorian within the Ebmi7 measures.
Here's a playlist which will allow you to perform some of Coltrane's better recordings of the piece. Scroll past that to see the downloadable score for the chord progression arrangement.
Please join our community at SongTrellis. Our contributors welcome your comments, suggestions and requests. As soon as you join the site (or login if you are a member) a response form will appear here.
To include this sound in a page, type "Impressions 5", including the quotes.
Check home page to learn about newly submitted tunes, chord progressions, and rhythms.
Last update: Friday, December 19, 2008 at 12:14 AM.