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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The Inflated Tear
Jazz - Erschienen bei Rhino Atlantic am 01.01.1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kirk's Work (Rudy Van Gelder Remaster)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Prestige am 23.11.2022
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Free Kings
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 18.03.2019
Qobuz’ Schallplattensammlung16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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We Free Kings
World Music - Erschienen bei TP4 Music am 06.01.2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Free Kings (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Avid Entertainment am 11.09.2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing Roland Kirk (Remastered)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Avid Entertainment am 22.06.2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings Of Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 16.12.1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Talk With The Spirits
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve am 01.01.1964
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Domino (Expanded Edition)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 01.01.1962
Qobuz’ Schallplattensammlung16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Here Comes The Whistleman (Live in Atlantic Studios)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Rhino Atlantic am 21.11.2011
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Out of the Afternoon (Original Album plus Bonus Tracks)
Roy Haynes Quartet, Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Classics am 01.07.1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kirk's Work [RVG Remaster]
Jazz - Erschienen bei Prestige am 23.11.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kirk's Work (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Circadian Jazz am 01.01.1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kirk in Copenhagen (Live At Club Montmarte, Copenhagen/1963)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 01.01.1963
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Talkin' Verve: Roots Of Acid Jazz
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve am 22.11.1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Free Kings + Triple Threat (Bonus Track Version)
Jazz - Erschienen bei Jazz Musts am 02.01.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roland Kirk's Finest Hour
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve am 14.05.2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Verve Jazz Masters 27: Roland Kirk
Jazz - Erschienen bei Verve Reissues am 01.01.1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo