Roland Kirk
One of the most extraordinary musicians of any field, Roland Kirk thrilled audiences all over the world - not just with his amazing virtuosity on flute, sax and a variety of other instruments, but also his showmanship on stage. Blind from the age of two, he played several instruments at the same time, filled his concerts with hilarity and outspoken commentaries and proved himself with groundbreaking performances, lacing his jazz with unexpected influences, including classical and Motown.
His first instruments were bugle and trumpet before he graduated to clarinet and sax, joining R&B bands in his mid-teens. He soon devised his own techniques and created unique instrumentation, playing 'manzello' and 'stritch' - modified versions of the sax - experimenting with R&B on his first album 'Triple Threat' in 1956. He mastered circular breathing, allowing him to play intensely without pausing for breath, and in 1960 he recorded his second album 'Introducing Roland Kirk' in Chicago with saxophonist/trumpeter Ira Sullivan. He toured with Charles Mingus, fronted his own band - the Vibration Society - and became something of a political activist, fighting for the rights of African-American artists.
He constantly experimented, adding nose flute, piccolo and harmonica to his musical armoury as he sought to open the boundaries of jazz and invented his very own instruments, the trumpophone and the slidesophone. One of his most notable triumphs was his playing on the 1964 hit 'Soul Bossa Nova' with Quincy Jones later used in the 'Austin Powers' film franchise. He was partially paralysed following a stroke in 1975, but continued to record and perform with one arm, until his death in 1977, immediately after a concert in Bloomington, Indiana, at the age of 42.
©Copyright Music Story 2023
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Kirk's Work (HD Remastered)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 23 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Early Roots, The Bethlehem Years (Hd Remastered Edition)
Jazz - Released by Resurfaced Records on 24 Jan 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Domino (Hit 1962) (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by JB Production on 6 Dec 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Triple Threat
Jazz - Released by Resurfaced Records on 12 Dec 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing Roland Kirk
Jazz - Released by JB Production on 22 Jun 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Introducing Roland Kirk (HD Remastered)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 22 Jun 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kirk's Work (feat. Jack McDuff) (Funk Underneath)
Jazz - Released by Ancien Prodige on 1 Jan 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Wonderful Soundtrack
Jazz - Released by Almrec Muzik Remastered on 3 Jun 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Looking for the Gold Masterpieces (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Almrec Muzik Remastered on 13 May 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo