Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Brotherman In The Fatherland
Kirk morphs a hot and nasty blues vamp into the soul/pop hit "Make It With You. Elsewhere, he directs the quintet into tumultuous, free-form exhibitions embedded with drummer Richie Goldberg and percussionist Joe "Habao Texidor's crashing rhythms. Regardless, one of Kirk's gifts lies within his ability to reengineer melody lines into submission as he liberates familiar themes with fury and resolve. Kirk's showmanship surfaces on "Pedal Up, where he sustains one note for over a minute, without a break.
The quintet finalizes the set with venomous takes on John Coltrane's "Afro Blue" and "Blue Trane. These performances by Kirk and his hard-hitting ensemble give credence to the notion that jazz is a timeless craft. Bona fide pioneers like Kirk can motivate and entertain in a consistent fashion, and also provide a jazz education along the way. Essential listening.
Track Listing
Intro/Like Sonny; Make It with You; Rahsaan's Spirit; My Girl; Seasons/Serenade to a Cuckoo; Pedal Up; Lush Life; Afro Blue; Blue Trane.
Personnel
Rahsaan Roland Kirk: clarinet, flute, tenor saxophone, stritch, manzello, nose flute; Ron Burton: piano; Richie Goldberg: drums; Henry Pete "Mettathias" Pearson: bass; Joe "Habao" Texidor: percussion.
Album information
Title: Brotherman in the Fatherland | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Hyena Records