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Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Kirk was born Ronald Theodore Kirk in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. In 1970, Kirk added "Rahsaan" to his name. Preferring to lead his own groups, Kirk rarely performed as a sideman, though he did record with arranger Quincy Jones, Roy Haynes and had especially notable stints with Charles Mingus. He played the lead flute and solo on Jones' Soul Bossa Nova, a song popularized in the Austin Powers films (Jones 1964; McLeod et al. 1997). His playing was generally rooted in soul jazz or hard bop, but Kirk's knowledge of jazz history allowed him to draw on many elements of the music's history, from ragtime to swing and free jazz. Kirk also regularly explored classical and pop music. Kirk played and collected a number of musical instruments, mainly various saxophones, clarinets and flutes. His main instruments were a tenor saxophone and two obscure saxophones: the manzello (similar to a soprano sax) and the stritch (a straight alto sax lacking the instrument's characteristic upturned bell). Kirk modified these instruments himself to accommodate his simultaneous playing technique. He typically appeared on stage with all three horns hanging around his neck, as well as a variety of other instruments, including flutes and whistles, and often kept a gong within reach. Kirk also played harmonica, english horn, recorders and was a competent trumpeter. He often had unique approaches, using a saxophone mouthpiece on a trumpet or playing nose flute. He additionally used many extramusical sounds in his art, such as alarm clocks, whistles, sirens, a section of common garden hose ("the black mystery pipes") and even primitive electronic sounds (before such things became commonplace). Kirk was also an influential flautist, employing several techniques that he developed himself. One technique was to sing or hum into the flute at the same time as playing. Another was to play the standard transverse flute at the same time as a nose flute. Some observers thought that Kirk's bizarre onstage appearance and simultaneous multi-instrumentalism were just gimmicks, especially when coming from a blind man, but these opinions usually vanished when Kirk actually started playing. He used the multiple horns to play true chords, essentially functioning as a one-man saxophone section. Kirk insisted that he was only trying to emulate the sounds he heard in his mind. Kirk was also a major exponent and practitioner of circular breathing.

Using this technique, Kirk was not only able to sustain a single note for virtually any length of time; he could also play 16th-note runs of almost unlimited length, and at high speeds. His circular breathing ability enabled him to record Concerto For Saxophone on the Prepare Thyself To Deal With A Miracle LP in one continuous take of about 20 minutes' playing with no discernible "break" for inhaling. His long-time producer at Atlantic Jazz, Joel Dorn, believes he should have received credit in The Guinness Book of World Records for such feats (he was capable of playing continuously "without taking a breath" for far longer than exhibited on that LP), but this never happened. The Case Of The 3-Sided Dream in Audio Color was a unique album in jazz and popular music recorded annals. It was a two-LP set, with Side 4 apparently "blank," the label not indicating any content. However, once word of "the secret message" got around among Rahsaan's fans, one would find that about 12 minutes into Side 4 appeared the first of two telephone answering machine messages recorded by Kirk, the second following soon thereafter (but separated by more blank grooves). The surprise impact of these segments appearing on "blank" Side 4 was lost, of course, on the CD reissue of this album. These spoken-word segments reflected the tenor of the times, so to speak, with the rather pessimistic theme that humanity had "blown" its chance to live in a world of peace and harmony. But this was entirely in keeping with the fact that, despite his loss at an early age of his visual acuity, Rahsaan was very much on top of societal developments, racial and economic injustice and disparity. (Indeed, he had participated many years previously in protests against the failure of TV show hosts like Merv Griffin to hire any non- white musicians.) He gleaned information on what was happening in the world via audio media like radio and the sounds coming from TV sets. His later recordings often incorporated his spoken commentaries on current events, including Richard M. Nixon's involvement in Watergate. The 3-Sided Dream album was a "concept album," somewhat akin to the Beatles' "psychedelic" phase in the incorporation of "found" or environmental sounds and tape loops, tapes being played backwards, etc. Snippets of Billie Holiday singing are also heard briefly. The album even confronts the rise of influence of computers in society, as Rahsaan threatens to pull the plug on the machine trying to tell him what to do. In 1975, Kirk suffered a major stroke which led to partial paralysis of one side of his body. Despite this, he continued to perform, modifying his instruments himself to enable him to play with only one arm. At a live performance at Ronnie Scott's club in London he even managed to play two instruments, and carried on to tour internationally and even appear on TV. He died from a second stroke in 1977 after performing at the Bluebird nightclub in Bloomington, Indiana.

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Unearthed... Previously Unreleased Music from Rahsaan Roland Kirk + New Tunes from Brandon Sanders and Lafayette Harris Jr.

by Hobart Taylor
November 19, 2025

Rahsaan Roland Kirk Live Recording, plus gorgeous vocals from Rufus Wainwright and La Paula Herrera.Playlist Host Speaks 00:00 Brandon Sanders “Soul Eyes" from Lasting Impression (Savant/HighNote) 00:15 Sharel Cassity “Gratitude" from Gratitude (Sunnyside) 6:14 Los Angeles Improvisations Ensemble “Sussex Elegy" from Insubordinate Lunar Transgressions (Denouement) 10:58 Host Speaks 16:42 Marianne Solivan “Open the Door" from Break's Over (Imani) 17:39 Lafayette Harris, Jr “Good Morning Heartache" from All In Good Time (Savant) 22:51 Geri Allen/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian “Obtuse Angles" ...

Album Review

Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Seek & Listen: Live At The Penthouse

Read "Seek & Listen: Live At The Penthouse" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
November 18, 2025

Most jazz fans are likely familiar with the visual images that are usually tagged onto the music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935 -1977)--photos of a man in black sunglasses with three (or more) reed instruments around his neck and/or in his mouth. That these optics often precede the experience of the music is ironic, since Kirk himself was blind. But Kirk was a showman. These images caught the attention. And he did indeed play three (maybe only two; maybe the ...

Jazz & Juice

Fall Sip & Swing Compilation

by Kristen Lee Sergeant
October 1, 2025

Dear All About Jazzers, Welcome back to your quarterly wine and song pairing, Jazz & Juice, where we all get to enjoy loitering at the intersection of wine and song. This is a collection of my favorite pairings from the past months--if you'd like to keep pace with me and the pairings this fall (and hear more about what I'm up to in both spheres), consider this your invitation to join your fellow Jazz & Juicers ...

Radio & Podcasts

Live at Newport 1956-69 + New Releases

by David Brown
July 17, 2025

Today we will bookend the show with new releases from Hiromi, Ambrose Akinmusire, Fred Hersch, Dan Weiss, and Phillippe Massé . In between, a summer selection of recordings originating from the Newport Jazz Festival between 1956 and 1969. Artists for this set will include Duke Ellington, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Dizzy Gillespie, Teddy Wilson, The Sextet, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Miles Davis. Welcome friends and neighbors to The Jazz Continuum. Old, new, in, out... wherever the music takes ...

Radio & Podcasts

Kirk Works, Gospel Roots, New Releases

by David Brown
October 17, 2023

For this week's show, a set of works featuring Rahsaan Roland Kirk, gospel inspired tracks from James Brandon Lewis and Ray Bryant, solo piano from Mal Waldron and Matthew Shipp, and new releases from Eri Yamamoto (pictured), Anna Webber, Hiromi and more. Playlist Thelonious Monk “Esistrophy (Theme)" from Live at the It Club-Complete (Columbia) 01:50 Jaki Byard “Parisian Thoroughfare" from The Jaki Byard Experience (Prestige) 02:30 The Rahsaan Roland Kirk Quartet “From Bechet, Byas, And Fats" from Rip, ...

Radio & Podcasts

Bill Evans, Fire! Orchestra, Roland Kirk Orchestral Works + recent releases and old finds

by David Brown
May 9, 2023

Join us for another week of the Jazz Continuum. Old, new, in, out, where ever the music takes us. Each week we explore the elements of jazz form a historical perspective. This week we take a look at some large ensemble works from Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Bill Evans and Fire! Orchestra as well as some recent releases from Kalia Vandever, Marc Copland, Joe Chambers and more. Enjoy! Playlist Thelonious Monk “Esistrophy (Theme)" from Live at the It Club-Complete ...

Album Review

Charles Mingus: Mingus At Carnegie Hall (Deluxe Edition)

Read "Mingus At Carnegie Hall (Deluxe Edition)" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
June 29, 2021

This 2-CD set takes the 1974 album Mingus At Carnegie Hall (Atlantic) and adds seventy minutes of previously unissued material recorded at the same concert. It is as worthwhile an addition to Charles Mingus' recorded legacy as 2020's previously unissued 2-CD set Charles Mingus @ Bremen 1964 & 1975 (Sunnyside). Why it has taken so long for either set to be released is anybody's guess. But at least we have them now. Mingus led many great bands ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Kirk was born Ronald Theodore Kirk in Columbus, Ohio, but felt compelled by a dream to transpose two letters in his first name to make Roland. In 1970, Kirk added “Rahsaan" to his name. Preferring to lead his own groups, Kirk rarely performed as a sideman, though he did record with arranger Quincy Jones, Roy Haynes and had especially notable stints with Charles Mingus. He played the lead flute and ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Video / DVD

Videos: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
March 24, 2020

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was one of the purest and most fascinating jazz artists and composers of the post-war period. Blind from birth, he was a soulful and experimental and romantic multi-instrumentalist who defied his own physical limitations to become the very essence of jazz in all its free but gifted glory. Here are five clips of Kirk in action... Here's Kirk playing Stevie Wonder's My Cherie Amour in Paris in 1972... Here's Making Love After Hours in 1967, with pianist ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2018

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Source: Michael Ricci
August 7, 2017

All About Jazz is celebrating Rahsaan Roland Kirk's birthday today!

Recording

Roland Kirk - Cuckoo Serenade

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
September 29, 2016

On Sept. 16 and 17, 1964. Roland Kirk recorded tracks for an important album for Mercury called I Talk With the Spirits. It's important because of its instrumental eclecticism, its spiritual qualities and its original compositions by Kirk and playing by the group. The music holds up gloriously. It's independent-minded, it's melodic and it's soulful. On these particular days, two songs were recorded—the album's title track and Serenade to a Cuckoo. The personnel on both songs featured Roland Kirk (c-fl,African ...
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