Rahsaan Roland Kirk Music

To me, Roland Rahsaan Kirk reached his peak with "The Inflated Tear". After that, even though he still came out with some classic music, he tended to be somewhat self indulgent (i.e. using sound effects, spending too much time with dated hip talk on live recordings). If his music hadn't sold so well, he'd be classed as an outsider artist and he certainly has fans within the indie rock world such as Sonic Youth (considering that live, Kirk's performances would involve smashing up a chair, compared to many sedate jazz artists, he could be classed as punk, within the jazz community). As for these four albums, they have aspects of free jazz, hard bop, dixieland, ragtime, gospel, blues a full orchestra on some tracks, uncategorable experimentation including the use of home made instruments and as mentioned weird sound effects. Still within the realm of free jazz, I find this a lot more interesting than free jazz that is strictly avant-garde classical and are "compisitions" or tuneless blasting not grounded in anything musically (though that can be fun at times). I think that by including forms of jazz that were considered dated at that time along with the free jazz/playing 3 saxophones at a time out there aspects, Roland Rahsaan Kirk was trying to say that his music was not trying to pigeonhole itself but was open to all forms of jazz and that jazz was not evolutionary but that all styles from all eras were equally valid. That said "Left and Right" is the most solid album (even with the orchestrations), "Rahsaan, Rahsaan" is a classic concert. The other two albums, "Prepare Thyself.." and "Other Folk's Music" are not quite as good. However, no one can contest the statement that Kirk was probably the most unique jazz musician in history. His music takes some getting used to but once you readjust your sensors, you can find a lot that is rewarding.

As a longtime R.R.Kirk listener and fan, this was a big disappointment to me. I had never heard of any of the four albums on this reissue, and there's a good reason. Kirk worked best in small groups; heck, he WAS a group. Most of the material here is overorchestrated, in an embarrassingly dated way. There's good stuff here, but you have to pick through a lot of mediocre-to-bad material. If you're looking for bargains, get "Dog Years in the Fourth Ring".

Over orchestrated? I don't think so, but that's not the issue. This is a must have for any "long time fan" of Rahsaan. I still have all of these on vinyl and will surely be adding this box set to my collection too. Worth it just for Rahsaan Rhasaan although, Left & Right and Other Folks Music are good too. Even Stanley(the grouch) Crouch wrote a positive review on the LP version. Where can you get four discs for a deal like this?

I think that this collection of titles is quite unique for rahsaan. They are a bit different from the Mercury recordings and not exactly straight ahead, but hell, I don't think rahsaan was very straight ahead for most of his life. This collection is VERY much worth the money for four albums and I LOVE THEM... actually, I love every one of the 40 or so Rahsaan discs I have on vinyl and CD. He is one artist that you should have every little piece of his and I intend to do just that. I also highly recommend the Mercury box set. Buy it as well, but remember, you'll still be missing alot of rahsaan. dfielding@figleaf.com

This is a great jazz album, it is either his first or maybe sophmore effort but his style(s)was fully formed. It is just a very enjoyable album, it makes you feel good (especially when he lets off his siren)the same way Thelonious Monk does, just exudes good vibes...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1936-1977),blind man,happened to be one of the greatest voices in the history of jazz.He played all kinds of saxophones,including of course tenor sax,but also manzello, strich, flutes,and was able to play simultaneously two or three horns.His playing was one of jazz's most original.He played in Charles Mingus band ("oh yeah" on Columbia),and recorded until his death,at 41,although he suffered a stroke that let him paralized.In his last record,"boogie woogie string along for real" on Atlantic,he invited an old-time blues pianist, Sammy Price,and recorded magnificent tune with him (Tiny Grimes was also in the band!!).THis record, the first he made under his name,shows Roland Kirk teaming with the underrated Ira Sullivan (trumpet and tenor sax),bassist Don Garrett (who will later play with Coltrane),pianist William Burton (or Ron,or Rahn Burton,who will often play with Kirk,and who recorded a beautiful album on DIW some ten years ago),and drummer Sonny Brown,who's way of playing reminds me of my friend Sam Woodyard.This is a great hard bop session,including a standard ("our love is here to stay),and blues and gospel tunes that are very reminiscent of Mingus and Blakey.William Burton shows that he can play great things on organ too.Real hard swinging music which will remind you of some Charles Mingus,Art Blakey or Jackie McLean albums of the same time.Listen to the minor keyed "soul station",which includes a phrase from Horace Sliver's "doodlin'",and listen to Kirk's solo on this tune;it could have been played by Hank Mobley .Listen to "the call" or "Jack the ripper";at this time,Kirk was only 24 years old.Try to remember the way Bird played in 1944,for exemple.Kirk was a true genius,and this album is a magnificent proof of that.Speaking of swing,the world has rarely been better used than to describe the atmosphere of this album.I never could classify jazz in N.O.,mainstream,swing,bop or free;to me,JOhn Coltrane and Skip James play exactly the same thing (if you're not sure,listen to Coltrane's "Alabama",then Skip's "hard time killing floor blues");Roland Kirk is just an actor of jazz history,a member of the Great Black Music,who could have played with Duke as well as with Albert Ayler.An incredible musician,proud of his roots, the blues, and exploring the future,as every good jazz musician did.

This is a great jazz album, it is either his first or maybe sophmore effort but his style(s)was fully formed. It is just a very enjoyable album, it makes you feel good (especially when he lets off his siren)the same way Thelonious Monk does, just exudes good vibes...

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1936-1977),blind man,happened to be one of the greatest voices in the history of jazz.He played all kinds of saxophones,including of course tenor sax,but also manzello, strich, flutes,and was able to play simultaneously two or three horns.His playing was one of jazz's most original.He played in Charles Mingus band ("oh yeah" on Columbia),and recorded until his death,at 41,although he suffered a stroke that let him paralized.In his last record,"boogie woogie string along for real" on Atlantic,he invited an old-time blues pianist, Sammy Price,and recorded magnificent tune with him (Tiny Grimes was also in the band!!).THis record, the first he made under his name,shows Roland Kirk teaming with the underrated Ira Sullivan (trumpet and tenor sax),bassist Don Garrett (who will later play with Coltrane),pianist William Burton (or Ron,or Rahn Burton,who will often play with Kirk,and who recorded a beautiful album on DIW some ten years ago),and drummer Sonny Brown,who's way of playing reminds me of my friend Sam Woodyard.This is a great hard bop session,including a standard ("our love is here to stay),and blues and gospel tunes that are very reminiscent of Mingus and Blakey.William Burton shows that he can play great things on organ too.Real hard swinging music which will remind you of some Charles Mingus,Art Blakey or Jackie McLean albums of the same time.Listen to the minor keyed "soul station",which includes a phrase from Horace Sliver's "doodlin'",and listen to Kirk's solo on this tune;it could have been played by Hank Mobley .Listen to "the call" or "Jack the ripper";at this time,Kirk was only 24 years old.Try to remember the way Bird played in 1944,for exemple.Kirk was a true genius,and this album is a magnificent proof of that.Speaking of swing,the world has rarely been better used than to describe the atmosphere of this album.I never could classify jazz in N.O.,mainstream,swing,bop or free;to me,JOhn Coltrane and Skip James play exactly the same thing (if you're not sure,listen to Coltrane's "Alabama",then Skip's "hard time killing floor blues");Roland Kirk is just an actor of jazz history,a member of the Great Black Music,who could have played with Duke as well as with Albert Ayler.An incredible musician,proud of his roots, the blues, and exploring the future,as every good jazz musician did.