Rahsaan Roland Kirk
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Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Talk
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Biography
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).
Top Tracks
Top Albums
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Bright Moments
3,512 listeners14 tracks
Released:
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Does Your House Have Lions (Disc 2)
19,567 listeners17 tracks
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Blacknuss
6,659 listeners11 tracks
Released:
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The Inflated Tear
6,252 listeners10 tracks
Released:
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oaquard
Yeah basically. Really unique style too.
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NeilTheRockGuru
Kirk doesn't get the recognition he deserves. One of the greatest sax player of all time
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merrari
This is madness! [3]
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emciuch
this is madness! [2]
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douluvurbody
nope this is genius
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tim4tw
this is madness!
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OnTheFly
wow
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Ton87
KubaNecina: I hope someone recorded those sessions, would love to hear them! I can't really imagine people not recording such a session.
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secondplanet_
Oh my! This is brilliant!
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KubaNecina
I think he had jam sessions with Jimi Hendrix, his BIG fan . I wish to find it !!!! :D Fuck my ears!
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HipHop1984
Blacknuss might be the greatest thing I've ever heard!
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Fellini___Y
!!!
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TeeJayAllDay
Another phenomenal Jazz legend!
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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?
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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.
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BluntedJazz
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ItWasntBo
Rip, Rig and Panic! imo
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Ukunlayak
which one i should try first from his discography???
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oseland
I am a blind American jazz saxophonist.
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juanchopepe2
music should not be so good WOW
All 87 shouts
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