Rahsaan Roland Kirk's nearly one-dozen long-players on the
Mercury Records family of labels -- including the Smash and Limelight
subsidiaries -- are gathered on this massive ten-disc compilation.
Actually, it is 11 discs if you count the surprise bonus CD.
Additionally, Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk lives
up to its name by augmenting those albums with more than two-dozen
previously unissued sides. Kirk's thoroughly innovative
multi-instrumental reed work caught the attention of legendary producer
Quincy Jones, then the vice-president of Mercury Records, who signed
Kirk and would later arrange and conduct orchestrations for several of
his memorable sessions. Perhaps the most recognizable among them is
"Soul Bossa Nova" which is heavily featured in the Austin Powers
franchise. Kirk's ability to perform several reed instruments --
including the tenor, flute, clarinet, manzello, and stritch --
simultaneously allowed him a musical autonomy few instrumentalists are
afforded. His youthful embrace of the R&B, soul, pop, and eventually
rock genres produced swinging interpretations of "And I Love Her" and
"Walk on By," among others. Regardless of the genre, however, Kirk's
ability to Swing -- with a capitol "S" -- is imprinted upon every piece
he performed. Although Kirk continued his prolific output on Atlantic
records in the late '60s and '70s, arguably his most profound sides are
included here. We Free Kings, Domino, Reeds and Deeds, Gifts and
Messages, I Talk with the Spirits and Rip, Rig & Panic are offered
in their entirety. Undoubtedly the centerpiece of Kirk's work for the
label is the live Kirk in Copenhagen, which features some wicked harp
blowing from blues legend "Sonny Boy" Williamson, aka Big Skol. It is
only fitting that this album benefits so greatly from inclusion on this
set. The original six sides have been supplemented with an additional
ten to present the entire October '63 performance, now complete at an
hour and 45 minutes. Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings if Roland
Kirk is complimented visually with a 56-page information packed booklet
that includes: complete discographical and recording session logs, as
well individual essays for each disc. Although not for the light of
funds, this is truly the best way to become immersed in these early
works of Rahsaan Roland Kirk.
