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.
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Tubby's Back In Town! (Orignal Album plus Bonus Track)
Tubby Hayes And The All Stars, Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Classics am 31.03.2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei 21-Music am 22.06.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Jazz Classics Series: Introducing Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei Top Tracks am 10.10.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Classic Kirk, Vol. 1: We Free Kings
Jazz - Erschienen bei Top Tracks am 30.10.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Kirk's Work (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Avid Entertainment am 23.11.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Third Dimension (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Deeds & Reeds Records am 25.04.2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music around the World by Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei Sunny Side of the Street am 04.09.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing Roland Kirk (Remastered 2011)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Techniche Label OMP am 14.10.2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Third Dimension and Beyond
Jazz - Erschienen bei Ascension Records am 01.04.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Live At Ronnie Scott's: The Best of the 60's Vol. 2
Don Byas, Roland Kirk, Stan Tracey
Jazz - Erschienen bei Carter Lane - OMiP am 09.12.2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Classics Series: We Free Kings
Jazz - Erschienen bei Top Tracks am 10.10.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Classic Kirk, Vol. 2: Triple Threat
Jazz - Erschienen bei Top Tracks am 30.10.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kirk's Work
Jazz - Erschienen bei Black Sheep Music am 23.11.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo