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Rahsaan Roland Kirk
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Rahsaan Roland Kirk (August 7th, 1936 - December 5th, 1977) was a blind American jazz saxophonist, perhaps best known for his ability to play more than one saxophone at once. Kirk was born Ronald Kirk in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. After another dream about 1970 he added Rahsaan to his name.
His playing was generally rooted in soul jazz or hard bop, but Kirk’s encyclopedic knowledge of jazz history allowed him to draw convincingly on any element of the music’s history, from ragtime to swing and free jazz. Kirk also regularly explored classical and pop music.
Kirk played and collected a vast number of musical instruments, mainly various saxophones, clarinets and flutes. His main instruments were tenor saxophone, and two obscure saxophones: the manzello (similar to a soprano sax) and the stritch (a straight alto sax lacking the instrument’s characteristic upturned bell). Kirk modified these instruments himself to accommodate his simultaneous playing technique. He typically appeared on stage with all three horns hanging around his neck, as well as a variety of other instruments, including flutes and whistles. Kirk also played harmonica, english horn, recorders and was a competent trumpeter. He often had unique approaches, using a saxophone mouthpiece on a trumpet or playing nose flute. He additionally used many extramusical sounds in his art, such as alarm clocks, whistles, sirens, and even primitive electronic sounds (before such things became commonplace).
His playing was generally rooted in soul jazz or hard bop, but Kirk’s encyclopedic knowledge of jazz history allowed him to draw convincingly on any element of the music’s history, from ragtime to swing and free jazz. Kirk also regularly explored classical and pop music.
Kirk played and collected a vast number of musical instruments, mainly various saxophones, clarinets and flutes. His main instruments were tenor saxophone, and two obscure saxophones: the manzello (similar to a soprano sax) and the stritch (a straight alto sax lacking the instrument’s characteristic upturned bell). Kirk modified these instruments himself to accommodate his simultaneous playing technique. He typically appeared on stage with all three horns hanging around his neck, as well as a variety of other instruments, including flutes and whistles. Kirk also played harmonica, english horn, recorders and was a competent trumpeter. He often had unique approaches, using a saxophone mouthpiece on a trumpet or playing nose flute. He additionally used many extramusical sounds in his art, such as alarm clocks, whistles, sirens, and even primitive electronic sounds (before such things became commonplace).
Top Albums
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Does Your House Have Lions (Disc 2)
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
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Bright Moments (disc 2)
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Brotherman in the Fatherland
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Bright Moments (disc 1)
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Top Tracks
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The Inflated Tear
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Pedal Up
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Freaks for the Festival
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Volunteered Slavery
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Blacknuss
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My Girl
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Serenade To A Cuckoo
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Blue Rol
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Make It With You
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Shoutbox
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Sgarre1 wrote:
"I want to come back as a note..." you said it, man!
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rompemonster wrote:
check out his Copenhagen album: among many greats this is a hidden beauty
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clark_ wrote:
Timeless Rahsaan
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alko-g wrote:
Bust ya ass!
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Inci90 wrote:
woah daddio
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johnnythed wrote:
I love Rahsaan !!
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phillip360 wrote:
Glue the estrus 'pataphysics group and absorb time machine lecture #6 if you like roland kirk
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chalmiebigfish wrote:
Always top rankin'
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namnatulco wrote:
Rip, Rig and Panic is amazing.
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smichaelgbg wrote:
I bet that if he had a mouth big enough he could play (and it would sound great) ten saxophones!
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EarOpen wrote:
I sing thy praises O Rahsaan
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jackcoltman wrote:
Roland Kirk had Soul ya'll.
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olddiskman wrote:
been listening to him for 45 years.still learning from his music
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foursixnine wrote:
Excelent!!!
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bdan2013 wrote:
YES!!!!!!!!!
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phillip360 wrote:
♫ nourish, glue and inflate the soon to be estrus and electrified 'pataphysics group ♫
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almo123 wrote:
DMX's remix of aint no sunshine ftw!
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TomH86 wrote:
fergalmc...quote wikipedia much??
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GregaKoco2 wrote:
WOW SICK SHIT
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phillip360 wrote:
anyone for Vertical Music?
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