HARD DRIVING & BLUESY: ESSENTIAL KIRK
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 06/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five Big Stars!! One of the great but little-known Roland Kirk recordings! A "Must Have" for Kirk fans, old and new. Recorded live with full spoken, but brief, introductory comments from Roland (as he was known at the time of this recording, when it was originally released on Atlantic LP in 1967). His spoken comments make the CD unusually intimate and his incredible playing is totally focused on the music. And it's truly a wonderful experience of invigorating jazz and blues that represents the best of Kirk's total arsenal of musical weapons, ideas, musical friends, and performances. Special mention must be made, up front, of the tremendous piano support provided by Lonnie Smith and Jaki Byard, who were both on fire throughout. And Major Holley and Charles Crosby are just too much as rhythm anchors!!
The 'Pieces D'Resistance' are wall-to-wall on this CD. From the driving blues of "Roots", the audience's whistle participation (which works really well) underlaying Kirk's sizzling performance on Tenor and nose flute on "Here Comes The Whistleman", the good rocking blues of "Making Love After Hours", Major Holley's unison arco bass and voice on "Yesterdays", the beautiful understated minor theme of "Aluminum Baby" with Kirk's non-pariel burning solo on manzello, to the timeless beauty of the hard-driving "Step Right Up", it's fabulous jazz at it's best.
Of special note is a performance that has haunted me for decades, "I Wished On The Moon". From Roland's 'true jazz experience' spoken comments over Byard's after-hour pianism, to Kirks beautiful solo blending into Byard's kaleidoscopic piano solo, it's a marvelous, mesmerizing performance. Great Stuff!! I haven't heard this music for decades, but believe me, it's still fresh and invigorating stuff. This CD returns this wonderful music to my front burner of 'Vital Music' to be listened to often these days.
(NOTE: Some of Roland's later recorded music was so crowded with ideas and musical components within one song (as well as the ever present multi-horn unison riffs) that it obscured his great conventional musicianship in favor of whatever cause he was fronting at the time. But not so here, it's all about a classic jazz approach to the music, the musicians, and the adoring crowd. Jump in and ENJOY!! This CD will make you a Rashaan Roland Kirk fan for life.)"
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1