Blues for Alice [Alternate Take] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Parker, Charlie [Sa
Blues for Alice - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Parker, Charlie [Sa
My Delight - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
The Haunted Melody - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
A Sack Full of Soul - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
We Free Kings - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Loesser, Frank
Moon Song - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Coslow, Sam
Some Kind of Love - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Three for the Festival - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
You Did It, You Did It - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (16) - Disc #2
Get Out of Town - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Porter, Cole
Rolando - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
I Believe in You - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Loesser, Frank
Where Monk and Mingus Live/Let's Call This - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Domino - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ferrari, Louis
E.D. - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
I Didn't Know What Time It Was - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Hart, Lorenz
Someone to Watch over Me - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gershwin, George
Termini's Corner [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
When the Sun Comes Out [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Arlen, Harold
Ad Lib (Hip Chops) [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Stitt's Tune - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stitt, Sonny
I See With My Third "I" - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Medley: If I Had You/Alone Together/For Heaven's Sake - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Cambell, Jimmy
Afternoon in Paris - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lewis, John [01]
Lady "E" - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (12) - Disc #3
Meeting on Termini's Corner - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Domino - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ferrari, Louis
Time - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Powell, Richie
3-In-1 Without the Oil - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
A Stritch in Time - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Lament - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Johnson, J.J. [Trom
A Breath in the Wind - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Land of Peace - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Feather, Leonard
Lonesome August Child - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Limbo Boat - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Hay Ro - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Waltz of the Friends - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (13) - Disc #4
This Is Always - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gordon, Mack
Reeds and Deeds - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Song of the Countrymen - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Ecclusiastics - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mingus, Charles
By Myself - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dietz, Howard
Roland Speaks - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Golson, Benny
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Maschwitz, Eric
Variations on a Theme of Hindemith - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
I've Got Your Number - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Coleman, Cy
Between the Fourth and the Fifth Step - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
April Morning - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Get in the Basement - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Abstract Improvisation - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (7) - Disc #5
Narrow Bolero [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Narrow Bolero - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
My Heart Stood Still [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Hart, Lorenz
No Title, No. 1 - Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Mood Indigo [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bigard, B.
Cabin in the Sky - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Duke, Vernon
On the Corner of King and Scott Streets - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (8) - Disc #6
The Monkey Thing - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Will You Still Be Mine? [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Adair, Tom
One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Arlen, Harold
We'll Be Together Again [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Fischer, Carl [1]
Mingus-Griff Song - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Mood Indigo - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bigard, Barney
Medley: Rock-A-Bye Baby/Nearness of You/No Title No. 3 [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Carmichael, Hoagy
Half a Triple [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (18) - Disc #7
Japan [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Japan [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Japan [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Berkshire Blues - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Weston, Randy
Dirty Money Blues - Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Dirty Money Blues [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk,
Ad Lib (Hip Chops) [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
The Things I Love - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Barlow, Harold
Petite Fleur - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bechet, Sidney
March on, Swan Lake - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Tears Sent by You - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Fleming, Michael
My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Saint-Saens, Camill
Gifts and Messages - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Hip Chops - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Blues for C & T - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Where Does the Blame Lie - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Vertigo Ro - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Jive Elephant [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (10) - Disc #8
I Talk With the Spirits - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Serenade to a Cuckoo - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Medley: We'll Be Together Again/People from "Funny Girl" - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Fisher, Carl
Ruined Castles - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Taki, Rentaroh
Trees - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Fugue'n and Alludin' - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Django - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lewis, John [01]
My Ship - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Gershwin, Ira
A Quote from Clifford Brown - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
The Business Ain't Nothin' But the Blues - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Track Listings (16) - Disc #9
No Tonic Press - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
From Bechet, Byas and Fats - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Slippery, Hippery, Flippery - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Black Diamond - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Sealey, Milt
Rip, Rig and Panic - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Once in a While - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Edwards, Michael [1
Mystical Dream - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Walk on By - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bacharach, Burt
Juarez - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Shaky Money - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Ebrauqs - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Raouf - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Nothing But the Truth - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Safari - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mathias, Eddie
It's All in the Game - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dawes, Charles Gate
And I Love Her - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Lennon, John
Track Listings (12) - Disc #10
A Taste of Honey - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Marlow, Ric
Dyna-Soar [#] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
Soul Bossa Nova - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jones, Quincy
Comin' Home Baby - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Dorough, Bob
Days of Wine and Roses - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mancini, Henry
Moon River - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mancini, Henry
Dreamsville - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Evans, Ray [Lyricis
(I Love You and) Don't You Forget It - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mancini, Henry
Charade - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mancini, Henry
Peter Gunn Theme - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mancini, Henry
I Had a Ball - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Freeman, Stan
Addie's at It Again - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Freeman, Stan
Track Listings (1) - Disc #11
A Stritch in Time [*] - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Kirk, Rahsaan Rolan
It's hard to fathom today, but Roland Kirk was considered a gimmick for much of his early career. For sure, the man was a cagey character, which certainly didn't help his reputation. People were bemused by the way he playe... more »d multiple horns simultaneously, including some horns that he invented himself. His style wasn't easy to pin down, either, so fluent was he in every jazz idiom. These factors help explain why folks were confused... but what exactly were they listening to? Even without his idiosyncrasies, Kirk would have been a memorable, innovative, inspiring tenor saxophonist, full of fire, tenderness, wit, and soul. And there was so much more: he remains one of the most compelling, hard-swinging, blues-drenched flute players in jazz history; his altolike stritch and his soprano-like manzello were capable of great beauty on his beloved ballads; his use of multiple horns included complex, luminous arrangements. In short, Kirk was master of all trades, and this 10-CD set captures him in a wide variety of settings recorded for Mercury from 1961 through 1965. There are numerous quartet sessions with top-level pianists: Hank Jones, Richard Wyands, Wynton Kelly, Andrew Hill, Harold Mabern, and Jaki Byard, who, along with bassist Richard Davis and drummer Elvin Jones, helped craft Kirk's masterpiece, Rip Rig and Panic. There are two discs' worth of live material from a Copenhagen club date featuring Tete Montoliu and special guest Sonny Boy Williamson (!), plus a handful of oddities ranging from full orchestras to an obscure organ quartet to a tenor summit with Tubby Hayes and James Moody. With all of the oddities and obscurities here, not all of this box is up to snuff. But most of it is outstanding, filled with crafty improvisations, lasting original compositions, and the various eccentricities that made Rahsaan what he was. This set reminds us that, for all his creativity, all his knowledge, all his experimentation, all his passion, Roland Kirk had fun playing music. --Marc Greilsamer« less
It's hard to fathom today, but Roland Kirk was considered a gimmick for much of his early career. For sure, the man was a cagey character, which certainly didn't help his reputation. People were bemused by the way he played multiple horns simultaneously, including some horns that he invented himself. His style wasn't easy to pin down, either, so fluent was he in every jazz idiom. These factors help explain why folks were confused... but what exactly were they listening to? Even without his idiosyncrasies, Kirk would have been a memorable, innovative, inspiring tenor saxophonist, full of fire, tenderness, wit, and soul. And there was so much more: he remains one of the most compelling, hard-swinging, blues-drenched flute players in jazz history; his altolike stritch and his soprano-like manzello were capable of great beauty on his beloved ballads; his use of multiple horns included complex, luminous arrangements. In short, Kirk was master of all trades, and this 10-CD set captures him in a wide variety of settings recorded for Mercury from 1961 through 1965. There are numerous quartet sessions with top-level pianists: Hank Jones, Richard Wyands, Wynton Kelly, Andrew Hill, Harold Mabern, and Jaki Byard, who, along with bassist Richard Davis and drummer Elvin Jones, helped craft Kirk's masterpiece, Rip Rig and Panic. There are two discs' worth of live material from a Copenhagen club date featuring Tete Montoliu and special guest Sonny Boy Williamson (!), plus a handful of oddities ranging from full orchestras to an obscure organ quartet to a tenor summit with Tubby Hayes and James Moody. With all of the oddities and obscurities here, not all of this box is up to snuff. But most of it is outstanding, filled with crafty improvisations, lasting original compositions, and the various eccentricities that made Rahsaan what he was. This set reminds us that, for all his creativity, all his knowledge, all his experimentation, all his passion, Roland Kirk had fun playing music. --Marc Greilsamer
CD Reviews
It's your Call...
10/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The problem with these large, expensive box sets is that by the time you'd consider buying it, you're a big fan and have most of the contents, then it's a decision on whether to be an obsessive completist or not...This set contains amongst its 11 disks at least 3 super-great albums (We Free Kings, Domino and Reeds and Deeds) and two masterpieces (Rip, Rig and Panic and I Talk With Spirits). You could buy these separately as they are still in print. So what else do you get? Well, the Live in Copenhagen album which is out of print. This live recording swells to 2 cd's of great music in the box set, some of the best of which was never released. You get some very pleasing singles that never appeared on albums as well, not to mention the "bonus" disk of a good performance at the Newport Jazz festival. About the only downside is the last half of disc 9 which covers the Latin album that is out of print and probably should remain so; and disk 10 which is devoted to some dreadful Quincy Jones stuff that is hideously dated and only features Kirk as a sideman. Despite these two exceptions the set is a solid 5 stars, just too much awesome stuff here. Of course there are the obligatory alternate takes that are not a necessity. So, you can buy 5 individual albums and kick yourself for missing out on everything else once you're hooked, or you can buy the box...it's your call."
Classic Kirk, the underrated genuis
Douglas Groothuis | 08/08/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Roland Kirk could play several wind instruments at once and could be quite a showman. He was also highly eccentric. However, he was not a gimmick master, but an authentic jazz orginal (ask Charles Mingus), who was as deep into the music as one could get. Kirk was an inspired soloist on several instruments (one at a time or several together!), a master of circular breathing, and developed a style of playing flute in which he sings through the instrument. This was copied by many afterwards (remember Jethro Tull?), but Kirk pioneered it--and did it better than anyone else! This set features much of his early work and is generally outstanding. The pieces where is he backed by Elvin Jones on drums are exceptional. Some of the Quincy Jones material (where he plays pop tunes) seem to put Kirk out of his element. The live recordings (about two CDs worth) have rather poor fidelity.Today, August 7, is Kirk's birthday. He died in 1977, only in his early 40s. He may have been blind, but he shed much light in the world of music. No one has yet appeared to match his originality or creativity.Douglas Groothuis"
Just pay the man and you'll be happy.
dfielding@bso.com | washington, dc | 07/02/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't add too much to the grammaphone review except to say that I looked REAL HARD at this cd for over two years before I bought it and never felt like my life was complete without it. When I did finally buy one used I realized that I should have just bought it when I first saw it 'cause that was two more years I could have been enjoying this GREAT Collection. Just get it now and don't make the mistake of waiting. Then get as many others as you can on atlantic and other labels and don't stop. Rahsaan is like no other."
A Spiritual Giant
Marc Rehula | Chicago, IL USA | 04/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm picky about my jazz. I feel good jazz must have a spiritual base. Kirk's music has a deep spititual core, but, unlike Coltrane's spiritually centered music (Meditations, A Love Supreme), Kirk's spirituality is varied: one moment serious, the next playful. This set has it all, it's worth every penny."