Rahsaan Roland Kirk & The Vibration Society "Rahsaan Rahsaan" 1970

This is surely one of Kirk's most fascinating, and dense, efforts. It's important to know that Kirk was blind, had an active dream life, was an indefatigable student of jazz history, played multiple reed instruments simultaneously, and was able to play very different melodies simultaneously when he did. Kirk always acknowledged the debt he felt to those who went before him and was eager to educate his listeners. That desire to travel back in time and run down the roots - as well as teach - has never been more evident than it is here...
...Almost half the CD is devoted to a suite called The Seeker. A high-octane line-up including Howard Johnson on tuba, Kirk favorite Ron Burton on piano, and LeRoy Jenkins on violin - among others - helps Rahsaan as he escorts listeners on a jazz odyssey that culminates ultimately - as it must - in New Orleans. Kirk relies heavily on speaking, and ambient sounds - paper bags, telephones, a laughing box - to create a very intimate, casual atmosphere, almost as if you have entered into his subconscious itself. He guides listeners patiently, burning up his tenor saxophone, working through various genres, naming off many of the greats. It's always exciting, but, as the name suggests, one feels a restlessness, as if - no matter how good the music is now - we will soon be shifting gears to go somewhere else.
In Medley, Kirk takes a live audience through his multi-horn virtuosity; describing it as "the first time in Western history" this feat has been accomplished. On one horn he plays Sentimental Journey, and on the other, a theme from the New World Symphony by Dvorak. He describes this as "splitting your mind into two parts." (Not something one hears every day.) Not only does he play both these pieces simultaneously, he riffs and jams on them simultaneously, using circular breathing to continue uninterrupted. It's unfortunate that Kirk was marginalized for stunts like this. He was a giant, as big as Bird and Trane. The multi-horn side of his persona had more to do with being blind and wanting to do everything himself; and a volcanic desire to create and experiment, than anything else. It's quite ironic that what seemed most unique and remarkable at the time in retrospect feels like a distraction from his prodigious abilities as a player.
Sweet Fire is a personal favorite of mine; it's got a slow drag groove that really sneaks up into you. The CD finishes with a track that really provides a nice sense of the "live" Roland Kirk experience. Baby Let Me Shake Your Tree begins with a fairly lengthy, salty introduction that even sneaks in a little political commentary. It then launches into a blues number that is raw at best, and hilarious. No performer I've ever seen, and I saw Kirk three times, knew how to work a room quite like he did. He was smart, funny, outrageous, edgy, and always kept you off guard - but when it came time to deliver the goods, Rahsaan didn't just come across, he tore down the house. - Alistair McHarg
The Vibration Society:
Bass – Vernon Martin / Congas – Alvern Bunn / Drums – James Madison / Piano – Ron Burton / Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Roland Kirk / Tambourine – Joe Texidor / Trombone – Dick Griffin / Tuba – Howard Johnson / Violin – LeRoy Jenkins

traxfromwax:
1 The Seeker a)Black Classical Rap b)The Seeker c)Thank You, Bird d) New Orleans 2 Satin Doll 3 Introduction 4 Medley a) Going Home b) Sentimental Journey c) In Monument d) Lover 5 Sweet Fire 6 Introduction 7 Baby Let Me Shake Your Tree
Ripped from Vinyl by RYP with Audacity 3.2 - Thorens TD 318/Audio-Technica-VM 95E / Yamaha A-S301