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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The Roland Kirk Quartet Meets the Benny Golson Orchestra
Jazz - Editado por Blue Velvet el 2 may. 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Time
Jazz - Editado por Black & Partner Licenses LLC el 7 may. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith
Jazz - Editado por Verve Reissues el 1 ene. 1967
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Kirk's Work (Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por Avid Entertainment el 23 nov. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music around the World by Roland Kirk
Jazz - Editado por Sunny Side of the Street el 4 sep. 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Introducing Roland Kirk (Remastered 2011)
Jazz - Editado por Techniche Label OMP el 14 oct. 2011
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 - Editado por Carter Lane - OMiP el 9 dic. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Domino (Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por Avid Entertainment el 22 jun. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Reeling and Rhyming
Jazz - Editado por Synergie OMP el 29 jul. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
We Free Kings
Jazz - Editado por Firefly Entertainment el 11 sep. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Triple Threat
Jazz - Editado por Firefly Entertainment el 12 dic. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best Of Christmas Holidays (Fantastic Relaxing Songs)
Jazz - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 1 dic. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Me Myself and My Songs
Jazz - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 24 jun. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Listen My Shuffle (Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 8 jul. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
My Happy Heaven (Remastered)
Jazz - Editado por Underground Inside Records el 11 mar. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo