Today is the day on the D'Addario Blog that we remember the great

instrumentalist Rashaan Roland Kirk

Rahsaanapolis awaits you!

Today on the Rico Blog is the day we remember the great instrumentalist

Rashaan Roland Kirk, who was born on August 7th ( yesterday) 1935.

He was one of the most important musicians in jazz, now then and always. Check his history here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rahsaan_Roland_Kirk

As a assignment for ALL those interested, please go buy -

Rip, Rig & Panic

How can you miss with this band!

Roland Kirk - Tenor Saxophone, Stritch, Manzello, Flute, Siren, Oboe, Castanets
Jaki Byard - Piano
Richard Davis - Bass
Elvin Jones - Drums

You can even get a 2-for CD here; At CD Universe. Downloads too!

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1177275/a/Rip,+Rig+And+Panic%2FNow+Please+Don't+You+Cry,+Beautiful+Edith.htm

This CD combines two of Roland Kirk's most celebrated albums. Rip, Rig and Panic is renowned because of the astounding line-up, Jaki Byard on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and the redoubtable Elvin Jones.In this respect it provides listeners,a good overview and trip into Rahsaanapolis.

This said, it would require a truck equipped with extra heavy-duty suspension to deliver the box set providing a comprehensive tour of Rahsaanapolis. Kirk was a man of profound contradictions, relentless experimentation, and an unquenchable appetite for music. He has been largely overlooked by jazz historians (to say nothing of the public!) and unfairly tagged as a novelty act because of his propensity for playing multiple horns simultaneously and actually making his own reed instruments out of bits and pieces of other reed instruments. But also listen to his gentle side- he was capable of playing music so fragile and beautiful check out " I Talk With The Spirits".

Who else could take you from Sidney Bechet, Don Byas, and Fats Waller and have the trip make sense? Kirk played everything he touched, and he played with unparalleled intensity. His flute playing was amazing, but his tenor sax work was simply off the map. Kirk belongs in the pantheon with Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Eric Dolphy, and John Coltrane - indeed, he's already there, it's just that the mainstream hasn't noticed yet. I'm not aware of any Rahsaan Roland Kirk CD that isn't worth the price of admission, but for veterans and first time visitors to Rahsaanapolis alike, this CD is a must have. Rico Blog readers get it now!

Are their musicians like this anymore? The experience is uncommonly artistic and uncompromising but never strains the ear or mind. As a free-range whole, Kirk was a poet's poet, clearly and constantly musical, with the mark of unsurpassed integrity.Give it up to Rahsaan.

I am lucky to be one of the few people who has all the Roland Kirk records on original vinyl. Including the rare stuff with Tubby Hayes and James Moody. In 1969 I saw him sit in with ZAPPA and The Mothers Of Invention at the Boston Globe Jazz Festival. He played Zappa's stuff and jammed on " Louie Louie".

Needless to say...it was the best version of that tune I ever heard. HA!!

IN 1970.....I lived in a apartment building in Boston, a now famous building a lot of us lived in called " Holmes Hall" on Hemenway st in Boston down the street from Berklee. Jam sessions day and night, all kinds of sounds daily and great musicians there.Ray knew Kirk very well and took us down on a Sunday to hang.

In the midst of the hang, someone ordered a pizza. The guy shows with the pizza and dropped the change as Roland Kirk paid him. AT THAT POINT....Kirk .reaches down , and picks up the change and hands it to the guy. I had to know how he did that, I asked him. He was still going by the name Roland then, he looks at me and sais " EARS BABY". I am very lucky. He was the musician that influenced me to search out stritch and saxello and expand my woodwind mind set at an early age as well. Thank you sir for that sonic message!

Remembering a late great master innovator, bright moments indeed.

~ Tim Price