RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK

VIBRATIONS IN THE VILLAGE: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE GATE

Resonance Records

Rahsaan Roland Kirk, tenor saxophone, Stritch, manzello, flutes, whistles, voice and more; Jane Getz, Horace Parlan, & Melvin Rhyne, piano; Henry Grimes, bass; Sonny Brown, drums.

This month of November, on the 28, (Black Friday) Resonance Records released the wildly talented, multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The project was recorded ‘live’ back in 1963. This recording came about because an unknown film maker was in the process of creating a film about Rahsaan Roland Kirk.  He hired engineer, Ivan Berger, to record all Kirk’s performances at the Village Gate for use in that film. Unfortunately, the documentary was never completed or released.  Unfortunately, the film maker died before he could finish the project.

Sixty years later, the engineer (Berger) contacted audiophile to say he had these precious Rahsaan Roland Kirk tapes from November 26 – 27, 1963. Sixty-three was a challenging time in America’s history.  Just a few days before this Kirk appearance, the 35^th President of the United States, popular, young and charismatic, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The country was in shock and mourning when President Kennedy was killed.

A week later, Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s Village Gate performance, was billed with the great songstress, Gloria Lynn and comedian Flip Wilson. The wonderful booklet that accompanies this album, part of the CD package, has a photo of that historic concert ticket at The Village Gate, a night spot on Bleecker and Thompson Streets that was once a Mecca of hip jazz culture.

Signed to Mercury Records, Rahsaan Roland Kirk released his first album in 1962. It was titled “We Free Kings.”  That initial recording put him and his extraordinary music on the map.  The sightless musician stunned each audience with his ability to play so many instruments, to sing, banter with his fans, and make political statements. All the while, he played complicated and creative jazz.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, he was born August 7, 1935 and died December 5, 1977 at the age of 42, after suffering two strokes.  He was certified blind at the age of two because of improper medical treatment. As a mere teen, Kirk began to stun his peers and adults alike when he could play two or more horns at the same time.

The musician was a highly spiritual man who heard voices speak to him in dreams.  He also had a dry sense of humor and was an activist.  Once when Jay Leno was touring with Kirk as his opening act, Roland Kirk introduced   him saying, “And now, I want to introduce a young brother who knows the black experience and knows all about the white devils.  Please welcome, Jay Leno.”

On this incredible recording, Kirk uses three pianists.  One of them was the very talented Jane Getz. As the story goes, Getz was visiting her friend Grimes at ‘The Gate.’  Unexpectedly, she was asked to ‘sit in’ on the spot. Jane explained.

“It was comfortable playing with Roland. Even though he couldn’t see me, he read my vibe.  He was very nice, a very warm person.  I still see the image in my mind of me playing this big grand piano with a lot of instruments in front of it, and him standing at the foot of it listening.”

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was a genius.  He sometimes played three horns at once, displaying harmonic beauty.  He also played flute, whistle, manzello, Stritch, percussion and more. You will hear his multi talents on this “live” album along with outstanding and historic performances by his outstanding bandmates.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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