RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK Vinilo y CD

Review: Gifted multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk at the height of his powers, backed by his Vibration Society, including long-term cohorts pianist Ron Burton, powerhouse percussionist Joe Habao Texidor, Dick Griffin on trombone, drummer Jerome Cooper and Vernon Martin on double bass. Five impeccable pieces are laid out and played out by the circular-breathing prodigy here, from the opening serenades of 'Sweet Fire' to the funking upstart seduction, 'My Cherie Amour'. A closing slave song satire, 'Volunteer Slavery', hears the stritch player go ham on a rapidly tempo-upping soul build, his singular sax seeming to dance and resound in every corner and cranny of the stereo field.

Review: Rahsaan Roland Kirk paid tribute to many forms of African-American music on this epic Blackness album as well as adding his own perspective along the way. It plays out like a rollercoaster from the Soul Train days to the modern Top 40 with plenty of epic covers of all the greats like 'Ain't No Sunshine', 'What's Goin' On' and 'Never Can Say Goodbye.' The record was his eighth for Atlantic and the eighth produced by Joel Dorn ad is the one with the most soul. Although the original arrangements of these tunes have been left pretty much intact, he still finds plenty of room for his own invention.