The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk kruth, john on. Rahsaan roland kirk august 7, 1935 december 5, 1977 was an american jazz multiinstrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many other instruments. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk, by john kruth mark davis then sent the ed sullivan show a letter warning them that they were next. Rahsaan roland kirk bright moments on 180g import 2lp from pure pleasure. He seemed able to do anything, and capable of doing anything. Barkans been in the business of facilitating bright moments ever since, and itll be good to have his warm wavelength back in the bay. Kirk lived a relatively short life, but he sure did accomplish a lot. It has been 35 years since my friend and original partner, kalamu ya salaam and i watched an orange sun setting in a purple sky as we listened to rasaan roland kirk carrying on about bright moments on the radio.
The great rahsaan roland kirk, who was born blind and eventually taught himself to play three saxophones, simultaneously, often talked about bright moments. This is a book which will allow you a glimpse into the world of a genius musician, of a man who could appreciate sound to a level unattainable for most of us humans. Bright moments song writtenby rahsaan roland kirk 10. A blind black musician who played three horns simultaneously, rahsaan. Culled from three years of indepth interviews and research, bright moments chronicles the tumultuous life of the.
Kirk wasnt nearly as consistent as mingus and cant be ranked as highly. Rahsaan roland kirk bright moments 1993, cd discogs. Of the handful of outstanding live albums that rahsaan roland kirk recorded over the course of his career, bright moments holds a special place because it was recorded at kirk s favorite club, san franciscos keystone korner, a small room that held just 175. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Born in ohio, the blind roland kirk quickly took to music, and it was immediately clear that his keen ear could get a handle on. If you dont, find out about his bright moments and his music. Bright moments celebrating rahsaan roland kirk san francisco. Anchored by a true tramps sensibilityhes been on the road with beirut, arcade fire, and his last band, team b, not to mention. Rahsaan roland kirkbright moments and the soul of a lion. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk deserves credit for interviewing scores of family members, friends and associates, but his efforts are diminished by oddly. Kruth commands the uninitiated reader to explore kirks muse, and those more familiar with the man to revisit kirks adventures through sound. Ron burton piano henry pete pearson bass robert shy drums joe habao texidor percussion. Culled from three years of indepth interviews and research, bright moments chronicles the tumultuous life of the neglected genius through.
What comes across loud and clear in kruths book is the extent of kirks talent and creativity, his dedication to tradition and innovation. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk by john kruth illustrated, 31 mar 2002 hardcover. Blind almost from birth, kirk mastered a seemingly endless array of instruments, playing not only conventional jazz staples like flute and tenor sax but also saxophone forerunners like the manzello and the. You get it all in this book, kirks development as a jazz artist, his struggles as a blind man, his frustration with record companies, the nasty stroke he suffered later in life that robbed him of. John kruth is the author of musical biographies including. From the tasty tribute to fats waller, jitterbug waltz, to the nola visit, dem red beans and rice, roland takes you traveling through space and time. Rahssan roland kirk was one of the most unique and colorful creators. Dem red beans and rice writtenby rahsaan roland kirk 7. Kirks life and career, and what an amazing story it is. Freed by his death from the distractions of his persona and stage performances, kirks bright momentsthe music he played without bounds or limitationsshine through.
Author john kruth worked hard on this biography of multireedist rahsaan roland kirk. When barkan launched keystone years later, kirk was one of the first artists he booked, and his classic 1973 double live album bright moments atlantic established the clubs international reputation. New biography recalls the dazzle and genius of a true. Bright moments, the first biography of the legendary jazz musician rahsaan roland kirk, establishes once and for all the brilliant multiinstrumentalists place in the pantheon of jazz giants alongside charlie parker, miles davis and thelonious monk. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bright moments is a live album by jazz multiinstrumentalist rahsaan roland kirk featuring performances by kirk with ron burton, todd barkan, henry. Playing under the name bright momentsa nod to rahsaan roland kirks titular 1973 live albumpratt recorded natives in his home studio, layering pieces bit by bit to form the albums 10 tracks. Bright moments by rahsaan roland kirk on amazon music. As his producer and friend, joel dorn, once said, people will be listening to his music 400 years from now. Buy bright moments online at low price in india on. Unfortunately, his attitude toward kirk is uncritically worshipful. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk 1 by kruth, john isbn. Despite being born essentially blind his eyes could distinguish light, rahsaan roland kirk became one of the most allencompassing and unique virtuosos in jazz.
Rahsaan roland kirk august 7, 1935 december 5, 1977 was an american jazz multiinstrumentalist who played tenor. Bright moments by rahsaan roland kirk skip to main content. He was a jazz musician, but ultimately he defied categorization. The double album bright moments reissued as a double cd is a neardefinitive document of the kirk live experience, and his greatest album of the 70s.
Freed by his death from the distractions of his persona and stage performances, kirk s bright moments the music he played without bounds or limitationsshine through. Bright moments the life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk 2000 welcome rain, to lives to fly the ballad of the late. Kirk deserves attention and kruths done jazz fans a favor by writing his book. Rahsaan roland kirk august 7, 1935 december 5, 1977 was an american jazz multiinstrumentalist who played tenor saxophone, flute, and many. If i loved you writtenby richard rodgersoscar hammerstein ii 8. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk by john kruth isbn. Rahsaan roland kirk biography, albums, streaming links. Please wash your hands and practise social distancing.
The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk by john kruth 2000, hardcover at the best online prices at. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk paperback 20140918 john kruth bright moments. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk 9781566491051 by kruth, john and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books. On the best records, there was a powerful drama of frustration and yearning, as powerful as mingus great tracks. Stream adfree with amazon music unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. From his unique talent to his imposing name, rahsaan roland kirk sounds more like some sort of mythic figure than a mere jazz legend, which makes bright moments, john kruths biography of kirk, extremely welcome. Lp rahsaan roland kirk bright moments 1973 sd 2907 atlantic records label. Club owner todd barkan booked a diverse array of poets, comedians and musicians, and his patrons all agreed that the room contained. But as kruth reveals in his simple and straightforward book.
Buy bright moments online at low prices in india amazon. It was written by john kruth, a musician and composer who lives in jersey city and grew up in. Cafe stritch hosts its sixth annual rahsaanathon aug. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk welcome rain is his first biography. Kirk was in his true element on stage and to see the jazz master live was like having a safe seat at the core.
From his unique talent to his imposing name, rahsaan roland kirk sounds. The philosophy of rahsaan roland kirk ralph dumain. Volunteered slavery has some excellent live tracks, as does here comes the whistle man, but bright moments does the best job of putting you inside the experience of a rahsaan club date. Bright moments rahsaan roland kirk album wikipedia. Topics rahsaan roland kirk bright moments full lp 1973. Celebrating keystone korners jazz legacy with todd barkan kqed.
The saga of john kennedy toole is one of the greatest stories of american literary history. Bright moments empties all the major items out of kirks bag of tricks, providing a neat microcosm of his talents and displaying a consummate and knowledgeable showman. Here, he plays one of his most popular composition, bright moments. Pedal up, youll never get to heaven, clickety clack, prelude to a kiss, fly town nose blues, bright moments song, dem red beans and rice, if i loved you, jitterbug waltz, second line jump vgnm. He became blind at the age of two, as a result of poor medical treatment. Bright moments, culled from three years of indepth interviews and research, establishes once and for all the brilliant multiinstrumentalists place in the pantheon of jazz giants. Id bought john kruths bright moments wanting to find out more about this extraordinary artists background, and kruth eloquently portraying kirk s life and music. For the past several years, i have been researching and writing a book about the late, great, musician, rahsaan roland kirk. Bright moments by rahsaan roland kirk go unlimited try now. Rahsaan roland kirk bright moments releases discogs. Oct 28, 2006 rahsaan roland kirk tenor sax, clarinet, flute. Bright moments the life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk.
A true eulipion, swinging poet of the piano, transcendental educator, and powerful purveyor of the truth and the light. Bright moments the life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk by. This book is amazing if you can find a copy and know who rasaan roland kirk is. John kruth bright moments, the first biography of the legendary jazz musician rahsaan roland kirk, establishes once and for all the brilliant multiinstrumentalists place in the pantheon of jazz giants alongside charlie parker, miles davis and thelonious monk.
August of 2019 will mark the 35th anniversary of bright moments. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Rahsaan roland kirk s live club gigs were usually engaging, freewheeling affairs, full of good humor and a fantastically wide range of music. He interviewed many people and unearthed new material, but much of the read more bright moments the life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk by john kruth. D c dowdell p darren wagner b shae moseley d this feature is not available right now. 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. Back in the mid90s, while writing my first book bright moments the life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk, joel dorn, kirks producer at atlantic records, suggested i interview hal willner. Prodigiously talented jazz multiinstrumentalist, renowned for his ability to play several horns simultaneously. Bright moments, the first biography of the legendary jazz musician rahsaan roland kirk, establishes once and for all the brilliant multiinstrumentalists place in the pantheon of jazz giants alongside charlie parker, miles davis, and thelonious monk. Pedal up, youll never get to heaven, clickety clack, prelude to a kiss, fly town nose blues, bright moments song, dem red beans and rice, if i.
Rahsaan roland kirk bright moments full lp 1973 by u2uber. Bright moments rahsaan roland kirk compliments of the mysterious phantom. Kelly pratt finds bright moments everywhere he goes. Some of his on stage raps and antics got him thrown out of clubs flagged for life. A blind black musician who played three horns simultaneously, kirk s tenacious spirit never allowed obstacles to stand in his way. Check out bright moments by rahsaan roland kirk on amazon music. The life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk paperback stay safe and healthy. One of the great eccentrics of jazz finally gets a biography, albeit a sloppy one. But rahsaan roland kirk, the whistleman, the pied piper of jazz, certainly deserved to be taken as seriously as dexter gordon. What they did expect was, to coin a phrase, the unexpected, both in terms of what happened up on stage and in terms of the musical fare offered to them which. Kruth commands the uninitiated reader to explore kirk s muse, and those more familiar with the man to revisit kirk s adventures through sound. Rahsaan roland kirk bright moments 180g import vinyl 2lp. The title track is an anthem delivered tenderly on flute, a loving dedication to the entire audience.
Kirk was born ronald theodore kirk, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make roland. Bright moments is a live album by jazz multiinstrumentalist rahsaan roland kirk featuring performances by kirk with ron burton, todd barkan, henry mattathias pearson, robert shy and joe habad texidor recorded at keystone korner, san francisco, in june 1973. A luscious jitterbug waltz, equal parts tradition and kirk s decomposition of the fats waller classic as always, rahsaan mines the great popular musics of bert bacharach and burns you will never get to heaven prelude to a kiss, rahsaanelligtonia,and of course his classic bright moments. Rahsaan roland kirk multiinstrumentalist was born in columbus, ohio on aug. John kruth bright moments, the first biography of the legendary jazz musician rahsaan roland kirk, establishes once and for all the brilliant multiinstrumentalists place in the pantheon of jazz giants. Todd barkan, recordconcert producer and lyricist for bright moments, by rahsaan roland kirk. Rahsaan roland kirk bright moments 1973, gatefold, pr. Kruths first biography, bright moments the life and legacy of rahsaan roland kirk was first published in the u. Listen to your favorite songs from bright moments by rahsaan roland kirk now. Even in a music that has produced its share of offbeat personalities, roland kirk was truly oneofakind. Check out our resources for adapting to these times. So for whatever its worthto either one of us, for that matter heres the list from raoul duke. Jk twice in the book, the musician steve turre likened kirk to being. Welcome rain publishers, new york 2000 isbn 1566491053.
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