Rahsaan Roland Kirk For the record.....from one of the sources I found: those familiar with arcane jazz history know . Rahsaan Roland Kirk played a nonstop circular-breathing sax solo for two hours and 21 minutes in front of a roomful of witnesses in a London jazz club in the early '70s.
And despite his Circular Breathing aerobics for 2hours and 21minutes in the 60s/70s, The Guinness Book Of Records has Kenny G as the record holder for 45 minutes. Kenny hopes to achieve 45 minutes. In this piece, it is obvious that Rahsaan's facility and comfortability with Circular Breathing help to enhance his mastery of playing three and four wind instruments simultaneously. Creativities and sound experimentations are Rahsaan Roland Kirk's forte. And the Guinness Record goes to... Yes, he's alive! Look! Listen! Applaud! Vive Rahsaan Roland Kirk!
David Dubery: Rashaan Roland Kirk was an explorer of sounds. His was a search for the unknown - within the confines of "Organic 'free' Jazz". Connoisseurs of "Organic Real Jazz" adored the ALL of him. On the other hand, admirers of Instrumental Pop would rarely give him a second glance. To each, his own! "Organic Real Jazz" is to "Generic Fake Jazz" what Heaven is to Earth . Each defies comparison with/of the other. P.S.: Generic Fake Jazz is the so-called "Smooth Jazz" - a misnomer which is, in actuality, Instrumental Pop; (rough or smooth, groovy or funky, cool or saucy) It's nice music nevertheless - commercially, and for "chilling".
Rip, Rig & Panic (with Elvin Jones) is one of my favorite Kirk albums. Hearing him here with McCoy makes me wish he had done an album with the entire Coltrane group. What a gift Kirk was.
What a thrill to see and hear the magnificent Rahsaan Roland Kirk in his prime, before his stroke, with McCoy Tyner, both of them forces of nature! Show biz? Sure. So were Armstrong and Dizzy, both of them giants.
As What Often Happens. Men Like Roland Kirk And Mccoy Tyner are Ignored. These Brothers Were Way Ahead Of Their Time. True Masters at Making Music. what I Really Like, Is They Did This Way Before The High Tech. sound Systems Existed. just Pure Music. I Love This Kind Of Music.
I remember hearing Rahsaan at the Montreux Jazz Festival and first learning of circular breathing through him. He blew my mind in number of ways and I'm guitar player!
We will be fascinated with the playing of Rahsaan for the rest of our lives, this music is like pops, James Brown, Aretha, Bird and Trane-Straight out of Africa.
That only came from people of African descent from America. It’s our contribution to the diaspora. Anything we got from Africa doesn’t have to be explained because we were Africans when we got here. It’s all connected, but what we did here is of us from here!!!!! We cut off from the source but it’s in us so we changed the possibilities of what music could be and international in scope. Straight BLACK.
This is what my older friends turned me onto when I was a teen and to this day i have not seen or heard more power from one man, more power to the old school, truly original and I don't see that in the world, but hey, nobody was cooler than in the 70 's man Tianyvu the Bringer of Light, and sound
+oRuTRa45 guess you're right, as one starts to listen you distinguish the great performance of the musicians, but nonetheless Roland kirk surpasses them with his unique talent and magick
this was a downbeat readers poll winners show on PBS hosted by Quincy Jones. I saw it when aired in 1975 and Rahsaan stole the show. that's when I got into him. He plays the history of all black American music and takes them into the future. sad he was seen as a charlatan to some. he played with Mingus amongst others but was original.
Total American original. The multi-instrument thing was no gimmick with him. Coolest jazz flute player ever, too. Colin Stetson and MoonHooch were heavily influenced by Kirk.
as was ian anderson of jethro tull, i believe--but who WOULDN'T be influenced by this? like an incredible drug: just listening puts me under the influence!!!
Imagine. Imagine how insaaaanely great the lead performer is. Then have the very McCoy Tyner as the core of your rhythm section. AND featured soloist. This must have been one moment that the great Stanley Clarke couldn't breathe.
I used to see this amazing musician live at jazz clubs, always a great show, even if there were only 3 people in the club(that's how it was in the '70's when jazz was dying out), he was always professional, exciting, and always delivered his best.
Good one...especially because he was one of Jimi's greatest influences.They even got to jam together at Ronnie Scott's in London,heard it was magical.Pity it's not on tape.Could you imagine??
So inspiring & amazing & deep & masterful! Seeing him perform a couple times was definitely a guiding light in my musical growth.... Thank you for sharing your soul with us Rahsaan!
This was one of the shows that really got me into jazz. I think I went out to my local record store the next day and bought whatever I could find by Rahsaan! Remember when you'd hear an artist and have to go to the *record store* if you wanted to hear more by that artist? And it was worth the effort. Great memories.
I remember when video was first uploaded on to RU-vid. I’m so glad it’s still up. Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Stanley Clarke, McCoy Tyner, Lenny White, hosted by Quincy Jones and Chick Corea cameo at the tail end? Look at all of this greatness!
some things you just want to be able to give more than just one thumb up for listened to it 3 times in a row now and it gets better with each listen. these guys are just killing it.
@@jeffreylenz4846 i think he really invented the technique of circular breathing that Coltrane used. Personally he was funny, ironic, and most importantly, deep. I still remember the first song I played with him: "September Song"...in 3/4 www.jimgala.com
Fantastic Roland Kirk.. if you listen you can hear a phrase or two from "my favourite things".. and of course McCoy Tyner is there to add his own energy to this joyous feast ! Just amazing .. Viva Rahsaan Roland Kirk !
This is top shelf! One footnote here: The bagpipe thing that some of you are thinking about could be Albert Ayler. That guy was incredible! It's too bad that he passed from the scene much too early in life.
I watched three Roland Kirk videos so far. And each video within a minute of playing he will pull some musical gadgets out of his pocket. Can't wait for the fourth one.
Unreal, majestic, improvisational soaring, Rahsaan vibrates the very Axis of the Universe with his cross-hatch patterns of musical creativity...When I take my last breath, I need to listen to his music on one side and finish it on the other...JF
I've been a big fan of Eric Burdon (The Animals) since the 1960s. In an interview he named Rashan Roland Kirk as his favorite musician. That made me curious and so I discovered something for my whole life!
Fantastic. Rahsaan with with Mcoy, Clarke and Lenny White. Fantastic!! Even after Rahsaan had his stroke he continued playing & blowing multiple instruments. I saw him before & after with his band that featured Steve Turre & the late great pianist Hilton Ruiz.
@micaofboca thanks for your message. U r right---that powerful stuff is long gone. I remember seeing Sonny Fortune at the Vanguard in 1983 with Rashid Ali, Harold Maburn, cant remember who else in the quartet. That was some powerful sax lines Sonny was playing that night. Power. This Rahsaan video above is pure power and energy, moves me to tears.
it's ridiculous. unless one actually SEES it, you would swear it was 3 or four people. notice he's playing different parts on the damned instruments also at he same time, and harmonizing with himself.