Rahsaan Roland Kirk Al Hibbler Ornette Coleman - Meeting of the Times Ornette (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

A reissue Dr. Frankenstein would love

E. Earick | 04/04/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hard to recommend purchasing this material in this misguided configuration as long as other options exist. The Hibbler/Kirk album is currently available as an import for only a few dollars more and includes one track dropped here due to time restrictions. The Coleman album (featuring Scott LaFaro on bass) is even more easily obtained and features a bonus track also not heard here."

A special combo

Durge | 01/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't comment on the Ornette half of this unusal combo deal, but I have the Rahsaan/Hibbler album and it is an eternal favorite. I agree with the other reviewer that this isn't quite the most outgoing presentation for Mr. Kirk but it is gorgeous work that makes for a uniquely special blend of these two artists. I have loved Hibbler's voice ever since hearing this album but I have yet to hear anything else by him that matches this performance. This combination of two artists (Ornette has nothing to do with the Kirk recording with Hibbler) is such a relaxed, honest presentation of some old standards. I honestly can find no previous versions of these classic melodies that would out-do these renderings, and I idolize Billie Holiday, Prez and some of the other masters, but this is really special here. I am surprised it hasn't received more respect except it is a traditional concept that wasn't exactly in the vanguard of its time. This stuff is timeless, and it is definitely a Rahsaan flavor that any RRK fan should have near his/her stereo. Even though it doesn't capture his most dramatic side, it is unmistakeably Rahsaan. And the two artists seem perfectly suited. This is the kind of recording that can make a more "free-jazz" lover open up to the more traditional side of jazz. Along the lines of what Sun Ra displayed on many of his recordings. I'm buying this just to have the CD quality on hand, the Ornette recording can only be icing on the cake!"

Not so much Rahsaan, but great Al Hibbler

macfawlty | potomac, MD USA | 01/04/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This wouldn't be an early choice for a great Rahsaan record, as he is mostly accompanying Al Hibbler here. Al Hibbler is quite good, however and if you like this style of vocals this is a great album by any standards. Rahsaan may not be out front on this album, but he's right behind. It's just not the creative playing that he is known for."

This is an unusual meeting, that's for sure.

Eric C. Sedensky | Madison, AL, US | 06/17/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll go out on a limb right here and say, if you haven't heard Rahsaan Roland Kirk and are looking to get some exposure to his work without having your head explode (like I think it might if you start with, say, Rip, Rig & Panic/Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith), this is probably the most approachable work of his ever put on vinyl or plastic. The approachability comes from the subject matter, which is a tribute to Duke Ellington, but also from the baritone vocal work of Al Hibbler. (And if you haven't heard Al sing before, he has a wonderful warm, deep rich singing voice. It really impressed me and will you too, I think.) Kirk doesn't do much (if any) of his trademark simultaneous multi-horn stuff, and there's only one circular breathing passage that I could notice, so for the most part, his sax work is straight-ahead jazz that supports the vocalist. Hibbler makes the songs his own by throwing in some very strange articulations and pronunciations of Ellington's simple lyrics, and it all seems oddly sensible with Kirk leading the backing band. The sound is just amazing and the production and pacing is excellent. Every track is smooth from start to finish, and with Hibbler and Kirk trading off, the effect is marvelously sustained throughout. Kirk does take charge in one instrumental track, but otherwise, this is classic vocal jazz that absolutely fascinates and satisfies each and every time it is played.

The second half of this work is "Ornette!" by Ornette Coleman. I don't know what the record company executives were smoking when they came up with the idea to pair these two recordings, but rationality and logic obviously had nothing to do with the decision. (Makes you wonder what some of their other options might have been: Judas Priest with The Carpenters? Lenny Kravitz and Glen Campbell? The mind boggles.) Where Kirk and Hibbler are smooth, harmonic, delicate, wry and sensitive, Coleman is rough, dissonant, harsh, demanding and obstinate. Maybe that's why they are paired off: opposites attracting, and all that. Whatever, Ornette just isn't my bag. His playful harmonies and clever theme developments not withstanding, I still get tired listening to anything he does, and this was no exception. Technically, his chops are amazing, and it's a rewarding challenge to follow his sound to see where it leads, but it is never harmonious, often is not even musical, and it is that demanding nature that just makes it all too much for me. I'm glad I bought the paired off double recording, because the prices for the individual CD's are about the same as for this one, so I feel like I got a bargain. I just have to admit, however, that I'm going to get a lot of play out of the first half of this CD and not much at all out of the second half.

*The individual works are also available separately. (If you're like me, you might consider dumping Ornette! and just picking up A Meeting of the Times, but with the prices so close, why wouldn't you pick up the Coleman stuff for "free"?)"

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