The Impulse Years: 1973-1974

The Impulse Years: 1973-1974 is a 5-CD box set of Keith Jarrett albums, comprising Fort Yawuh, Treasure Island, Death and The Flower and Back Hand. The set was released in 1997 by Universal Music Group.

The music was performed by Jarrett and his affectionately titled 'American Quartet', which consisted of Charlie Haden, Paul Motian and Dewey Redman. Additional contributions were provided by Sam Brown (electric guitar), plus percussionists Guilherme Franco and Danny Johnson.

Aside from its appearance in this set, Back Hand has, to date, only ever been released on CD in Japan.

This set was preceded in 1996 by a four-CD box set called Mysteries: The Impulse Years 1975-1976, comprising Mysteries, Shades, Byablue and Bop-Be.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]

AllMusic awarded the album 4½ stars and its review by Scott Yanow states, "The music performed by this underrated group (which is heard at its best on the 22-and-a-half-minute "Death and the Flower" and "Inflight") is inside/outside, hinting at the avant-garde while not shy about using melodies and rhythms".^[1] In Jazziz Joseph Woodard wrote "In the clear light of hindsight, the music here makes an even bolder impact than we'd expect. Jarret's "American" band... was really one of the last great groups in jazz. The ensemble had a distinctive eclectic, an evolutionary sound at a time when jazz was in transition".^[2]

Track Listing

Disc 1: Fort Yawuh

1. "(If The) Misfits (Wear It)"
2. "Fort Yawuh"
3. "De Drums"
4. "Still Life, Still Life"
5. "(If The) Misfits (Wear It)" previously unreleased

Disc 2: Fort Yawuh

1. "Whistle Tune" previously unreleased
2. "Spoken Introduction" previously unreleased
3. "Angles (Without Edges)" previously unreleased
4. "Roads Traveled, Roads Veiled" previously unreleased (included in subsequent reissues of Fort Yawuh)
5. "De Drums" previously unreleased
6. "Melting The Ice" previously unreleased

Disc 3: Treasure Island

1. "The Rich (and The Poor)"
2. "Blue Streak"
3. "Fullsuvollivus (Fools of All of Us)"
4. "Treasure Island"
5. "Introduction and Yaqui Indian Folk Song"
6. "Le Mistral"
7. "Angles (Without Edges)"
8. "Sister Fortune"
9. "Death And The Flower" alternate take

Disc 4: Death and The Flower

1. "Death and The Flower"
2. "Prayer"
3. "Great Bird"
4. "Prayer" alternate take

Disc 5: Back Hand

1. "Inflight"
2. "Kuum"
3. "Vapallia"
4. "Backhand"
5. "Victoria" (Paul Motian) previously unreleased

References

1. Yanow, Scott. The Impulse Years: 1973-1974 – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November, 21, 2015.
2. Woodard, J., Jazziz, March 1998, Volume 15 No. 3, p.73

1. http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist/music/detail.aspx?pid=9472&aid=2686