Rahsaan Roland Kirk
"Left Hook, Right Cross"
(32 Jazz)
Since I'm wrapping up the year with occasional commentary on some important musicians of the century, let's tip our hat to Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Among many other things, Kirk was the most psychedelic jazz musician to emerge during the sixties. A spellbinding instrumentalist who was legendary for playing three saxophones simultaneously, Kirk's music incorporated pop tunes, world music, traditional jazz, the avant-garde, and even gospel. Unfortunately, Kirk's imposing musicianship was occasionally overshadowed by the spectacle of his performances. His wild proficiency on saxophone, flute and a number of other woodwinds was even more remarkable because the man happened to be completely blind.
A visionary disciple of great black music, Kirk could jump directly from an old jazz standard into an extended sax solo or a Motown classic with equal sincerity. This double-CD re-issue captures Kirk at the peak of his diversity and was taken from sessions recorded in 1969 and 1972. Disc One, "Volunteered Slavery," includes both live and studio performances. Here, Kirk plays everything from tenor sax to nose flute while covering songs by Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder before launching into an eight-minute tribute to John Coltrane. The second disc, "Blacknuss," is a more commercial album which finds Kirk tackling songs like "Ain't No Sunshine," "My Girl" and "Never Can Say Goodbye." Rahsaan Roland Kirk died well before his time, but left many great recordings in his wake. Other excellent albums to look for in the Kirk catalogue include "Bright Moments," "The Inflated Tear" and the four-album compilation "Aces Back To Back."
by Mitch Myers
copyright 1999 New City Communications, Inc.