Rahsaan Roland Kirk
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One of my heroes and a major influence, not so much in how I play, but more in his overall approach of total freedom in improvisation. I wouldn't take 50 "young lion" sax players of today for one Rahsaan. Not a "sound alike" player. Not a repeater pencil. I've got little to no interest in guys who sound like they are just a digestion of the last 40 years of tenor players. Why should I listen to them when I can listen to the originals? And Rahsaan was one of the originals.
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Seeing Roland Kirk (slightly pre-Rahsaan) in 1969 at the Boston Globe Jazz Fest with his own group and then jamming with the Mothers of Invention for their whole sat was a life changing experience as were the other couple of times I got to see him. Tim Price was at this show too.
I've heard amazing stories about him from Rakalam Bob Moses who played with him for awhile as a teen. One of those is he would periodically get a call in the middle of the night. Sometimes the phone rang for a long time before he woke up and stumbled to it. It would be Rahsaan saying "write this down" and he'd start singing a melody. Moses would beg him for a minute to wake up and get his head together, Rahsaan barely would give him a moment, he wanted those tunes or motifs on paper, not that he would ever see them.
I've heard amazing stories about him from Rakalam Bob Moses who played with him for awhile as a teen. One of those is he would periodically get a call in the middle of the night. Sometimes the phone rang for a long time before he woke up and stumbled to it. It would be Rahsaan saying "write this down" and he'd start singing a melody. Moses would beg him for a minute to wake up and get his head together, Rahsaan barely would give him a moment, he wanted those tunes or motifs on paper, not that he would ever see them.
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I remember at the show I saw at Lennys On The Turnpike (thank you again Ma and Dad for driving us there), he was on stage before the show with the band getting ready. The pianist was going over something and Rahsaan (he'd added the name by this time) heard a wrong chord. He walked across the stage with his hand outstretched and hit the chord he wanted while still in motion with no hesitation at all. Pretty stunning to witness.
The music was always so alive, upbeat, positive, full of humor. He was a powerful spirit.
The music was always so alive, upbeat, positive, full of humor. He was a powerful spirit.
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if you enjoyed that, you will love this much more comprehensive documentary: http://www.rahsaanfilm.com
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Thanks. Added to my watch list along with one about Gil Scott-Heron
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Grover Washington Jr. once said " No Rahshaan, No me". Rahshaan Roland Kirk influenced many players to double and triple their horn playing.
On Grover's Album 'Reed Seed". he plays many horns and flute multi-tracked.
"Reed Seed" Producer – Grover Washington, Jr.
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Grover Washington, Jr.
The thing is that Rashaan Roland Kirk played more than one Horn and flute simultaneously.
On Grover's Album 'Reed Seed". he plays many horns and flute multi-tracked.
"Reed Seed" Producer – Grover Washington, Jr.
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Grover Washington, Jr.
The thing is that Rashaan Roland Kirk played more than one Horn and flute simultaneously.
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460 Posts
Match. Don't need to add a thing.
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My mind is blown. After the Jazz and People's Movement disrupted the Dick Cavett Show, Rahsaan was invited to play on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1971. He played Haitian Fight Song with Mingus, Roy Haynes, Sonelius Smith, Archie Shepp, and more... Ed Sullivan, incorporating Rahsaan's term, introduces them as some of the "top Black Classical jazz artists in the country" (this is part of the Rahsaan documentary as well):
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He was a true magician, he projected an aura of peace and truth. I was lucky enough to see him live several times, in Boston at Lennie's on the Turnpike, at Paul's Mall and in San Francisco at some club I've forgotten (this was after his stroke, and he could only play with one hand). A truly unique musician with his own voice, yes one of the originals.
Thanks all for the video links, I now know what I will be researching this week
Thanks all for the video links, I now know what I will be researching this week
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Same here, I think in April 1977 in Houston at a club called La Bastille, as best as I've been able to track down the details from info online. I remember watching the first set and not even realizing he was playing one-handed until someone told me at the end of the set. Interestingly, in the documentary above they said he woud try to angle himself so that people in the audience wouldn't notice for fear they would somehow feel cheated if they knew he wasn't using both hands. I didn't feel cheated, just amazed.
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