Impulse!

Impulse! Records was founded in 1960 by Creed Taylor, and its early association with John Coltrane gave the label one of jazz's most enduring identities. Coltrane was among its first signings, and the sustained sales and critical acclaim of his Impulse! recordings led to the label's familiar nickname, “the house that Trane built.”

Created as a jazz subsidiary of Am-Par Record Corp., Impulse! was soon guided by Bob Thiele as well as Taylor. During its original run, the imprint became closely associated with modern jazz, then ceased making new recordings by 1977. Its operations ended in 1979 following MCA Records’ acquisition of ABC, though the label continued to surface through reissues.

MCA later revived Impulse!, initially with an emphasis on its back catalogue and, in the 1990s, with new signings including Diana Krall. Now part of Universal Music Group’s Verve Music Group, Impulse! remains an American jazz label with a roster that connects its history to current work by Shabaka, Brandee Younger, Irreversible Entanglements, David Murray Quartet, Ekep Nkwelle, The Messthetics, billy woods and André 3000.