Rahsaan Roland Kirk's live club gigs were usually engaging, freewheeling affairs, full of good humor and a fantastically wide range of music. The double album Bright Moments is a near-definitive document of the Kirk live experience, and his greatest album of the '70s.
Recorded live at the Village Gate in New York City on November 26-27, 1963 with pianists Horace Parlan, Melvin Rhyne, and Jane Getz, along with bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Sonny Brown. The music was originally recorded for a documentary film. The tapes were in storage for the next 62 years until now. Restored and mastered from the original tapes by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. The deluxe CD edition includes an extensive booklet with rare photos and liner notes.
Never-before-released recording recorded live at the Penthouse jazz club in Seattle on August 12 and 19, 1967 with pianist Rahn Burton, bassist Steve Novosel and drummer Jimmy Hopps. This infectious music was originally recorded by radio DJ Jim Wilke for KING-FM radio. Transferred from the original tapes and restored and mastered by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab. The deluxe limited 2-CD edition includes an extensive booklet with rare photographs and liner notes.
Known as a then-young Kirk's more consistent works, 1962's We Free Kings is a solid balance of bop with complimenting soul, backed by two different rhythm sections - one including Hank Jones (piano) and Wendell Marshall (bass), and the other with Richard Wyands (piano) and Art Davis (bass) - while Charlie Persip (drums) maintains throughout. The repertoire is primarily a showcase of Kirk's skill as a composer, though his take on Bird's "Blues For Alice" is not to be missed. Verve Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.
Roland Kirk - "Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series)" [180g LP] Released in 1967 with personnel including Lonnie Liston Smith (piano), Ronnie Boykins (bass), and Grady Tate (drums), Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith marked the beginning of Kirk's groovier explorations that would eventually lead him to record Blacknuss in 1971. It's vintage Kirk in a pared-down setting and is considered an essential Kirk album. Verve Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered on 180g vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging. Verve Label Group; Verve; Jazz; Catalog.
Roland Kirk - The Classic 1960s Albums / American jazz multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. He was renowned for his onstage vitality, during which virtuoso improvisation was accompanied by comic banter, political ranting, and the ability to play several instruments simultaneously. This magnificent set of eight classic albums is an ideal starting point for students new to Roland Kirk's music, as well as the ideal go-to-collection for jazz fans of all vintage, covering the great man's most prestigious, challenging and magnificent music that he would ever make.
Vinyl LP pressing. With Blacknuss, it's as if Kirk is taking listeners on a trip - from the top forty world of Soul Train to the roots of soul in gospel music and back in Africa. It is a remarkable musical-cultural shift in perspective and one that carries the listener with it. Exploding with near chaotic energy, this album makes a great soundtrack to a party about to teeter out of control. Cut all analog!
Underrated pianist Kirk Lightsey steps into the spotlight to lead an extraordinary quartet featuring Mark Whitfield - guitar, Santi DeBriano - bass and Victor Lewis - drums, through a spirited program of tunes from Dave Brubeck to Tony Williams and McCoy Tyner. Recorded live at New York's venerable Smalls Jazz Club this record is part of the Smalls LIVING MASTERS SERIES.
Limited orange colored vinyl LP pressing. Sightless, peerless, multi-instrumentalist, Roland's Kirk's 1967 debut for Atlantic is a monster of a live set from '65 featuring pianists Lonnie Liston Smith and Jaki Byard, bassist Major Holley and drummer Charles Crosby- all put to tape in Atlantic Studios NYC. Cut all analog.
Back in 1996, pianist Bob James and saxophonist Kirk Whalum - two of the biggest names in contemporary jazz - combined their talents on the acclaimed Warner Bros. Album, Joined At The Hip, which is now remastered and reissued as a SACD release by evosound. Backed by a slick band comprised of guitarist Jeff Golub, bassist Chris Walker, and drummer, Billy Kilson, the pair served up some fine original material - including Whalum's evocative tone poem, 'Soweto' - and jazzed-up revamps of two big '70s hits: Maria Muldaur's 'Midnight At The Oasis' and Donny Hathaway's 'The Ghetto.' Though it was nominated for a Grammy and peaked at No. 10 in Bill board's jazz charts, Joined At The Hip has often been overlooked and remains an important musical touchstone in both artists' careers. The album's 16-page booklet includes new liner notes featuring reminiscences from James, Whalum, and the session's original sound engineer, Ken Freeman. The original high resolution audio mixes were used for the DSD remastering. This hybrid SACD plays back on both SACD and regular CD players. Bonus tracks (only playable on SACD player) 10. Out of the Cold (Original Full Version) & 11. Deja Blue (Original Full Version).
2017 release. An air of mystery surrounds the work of Emily Dickinson. The beloved writer spent most of her time away from the public's eye amassing a collection of poetry that has fascinated readers for decades. Her short, gnomic verses are a perfect fit for vocalist Jay Clayton and composer Kirk Nurock. On Unraveling Emily, Nurock weaves Clayton's innovative vocalizing into surreal compositional soundscapes.
In 1990 when he recorded this scintillating date, now released for the first time, pianist Kirk Lightsey was one of New York's first call pianists, a regular in the rotation at Bradley's, the legendary New York piano saloon. On this release he convenes a cohort of New York A-listers to play a program that includes strong repertoire by Lightsey, Wayne Shorter, Detroit drummer Lawrence Williams and some choice standards. Featuring trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, saxophonist/flutist Craig Handy, bassist David Williams and drummer Eddie Gladden.
A fixture on the New York scene since 2003, when he accepted a scholarship at the Julliard School of Music, Norwegian guitarist Lage Lund, who won the prestigious Thelenoious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2005, displays what the the fuss is about on his Criss Cross debut. Featuring tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland, pianist Danny Grissett, bassist Orlando LeFleming and drummer Kendrick Scott.
This title is part of GRP's new Chessmates series, which culls from Chess, Argo, Cadet, Coral, Dot, Decca and associated label analog source materials from the '50s and '60s. Each release (remastered with 20-bit supermapping technology) was produced for reissue in Japan. Incorporating some of the best loved and best selling artists of all time, these Sound Buy CDs feature original cover art and liner notes.
In addition to his work as a soloist, Bob has earned a rep for stunning collaborative projects with David Sanborn, Earl Klugh and the other 3 members of Fourplay (responsible for some of the most successful albums in jazz). His latest pairs him with virtuoso saxophonist Kirk Whalum (backed by a group of ace musicians) for a set featuring new compositions by both players. Two vocal tracks are included; "Midnight at the Oasis" features vocals from Bob's daughter Hilary and Kirk's brother Kevin. Expect this to be an NAC chart-topper.
