Rahsaan Roland Kirk

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Biography

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1936-1977) 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 on 7th August 1936, in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. After another dream in 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, cor anglais, recorders, and was a competent trumpeter. He often used unusual instruments or combinations of instrument parts, using a saxophone mouthpiece on a trumpet or playing nose flute. He additionally used many extramusical sounds in his music, such as alarm clocks, whistles, sirens, and even primitive electronic sounds (before such things became commonplace).

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  • oaquard

    Yeah basically. Really unique style too.

    31 Mar 4:00pm Reply
  • NeilTheRockGuru

    Kirk doesn't get the recognition he deserves. One of the greatest sax player of all time

    6 Feb 12:15pm Reply
  • merrari

    This is madness! [3]

    29 Oct 2012 Reply
  • emciuch

    this is madness! [2]

    23 Aug 2012 Reply
  • douluvurbody

    nope this is genius

    2 Aug 2012 Reply
  • tim4tw

    this is madness!

    1 Mar 2012 Reply
  • OnTheFly

    wow

    29 Feb 2012 Reply
  • Ton87

    KubaNecina: I hope someone recorded those sessions, would love to hear them! I can't really imagine people not recording such a session.

    28 Feb 2012 Reply
  • secondplanet_

    Oh my! This is brilliant!

    2 Feb 2012 Reply
  • KubaNecina

    I think he had jam sessions with Jimi Hendrix, his BIG fan . I wish to find it !!!! :D Fuck my ears!

    24 Jan 2012 Reply
  • HipHop1984

    Blacknuss might be the greatest thing I've ever heard!

    28 Jun 2011 Reply
  • Fellini___Y

    !!!

    29 May 2011 Reply
  • TeeJayAllDay

    Another phenomenal Jazz legend!

    28 May 2011 Reply
  • kmullin

    I heard a collector’s copy of Rahsaan playing Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together’ once. Anyone know if that’s available anywhere?

    22 May 2011 Reply
  • kmullin

    i'd recommend the ‘Bright Moments’ album for a first listen (you get some of his diversity & his humor). If you’re coming from a jazz background, i'd additionally recommend his ‘Here Comes the Whistleman’ (with pianist Jaki Byard) in addition to Mingus’s ‘Oh Yeah’ with Kirk as a sideman (with also the fabulous tenor Booker Erwin). I think ‘Do Your House Have Lions?’ is also not a bad 2-disc anthology to start with.

    22 May 2011 Reply
  • BluntedJazz

    http://www.last.fm/group/The+Ecstatic

    12 May 2011 Reply
  • ItWasntBo

    Rip, Rig and Panic! imo

    1 May 2011 Reply
  • Ukunlayak

    which one i should try first from his discography???

    19 Apr 2011 Reply
  • oseland

    I am a blind American jazz saxophonist.

    10 Feb 2011 Reply
  • juanchopepe2

    music should not be so good WOW

    10 Feb 2011 Reply
  • All 87 shouts

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