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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Third Dimension
Jazz - Released by Bethlehem Records on 8 Apr 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Free Kings (Mono Version)
Jazz - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1963
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Kirk's Work feat. Jack McDuff
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on 23 Nov 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Triple Threat (Original Album plus Bonus Tracks 1956)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 31 Mar 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Four Classic Albums (Introducing Roland Kirk / Kirk's Work / We Free Kings / Domino) (Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Avid Entertainment on 19 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Roland Kirk Quartet Meets the Benny Golson Orchestra
Jazz - Released by Blue Velvet on 2 May 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Free Kings (Original Album plus Bonus Tracks)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Classics on 31 Mar 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Legacy (The Jazz Legends)
Jazz - Released by Sandstone on 21 Feb 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
New York Jazz, Vol. 10
Jazz - Released by Documents 2 on 27 May 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Domino + out of the Afternoon (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Musts on 15 Jun 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Time
Jazz - Released by Black & Partner Licenses LLC on 7 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing Roland Kirk
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 22 Jun 2021
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith
Jazz - Released by Verve Reissues on 1 Jan 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Live Through This
Jazz - Released by LTT brothers music on 15 Jul 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo