Rahsaan Roland Kirk's Volunteered Slavery
Sale price
$21.99
Regular price $26.99
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Rahsaan Roland Kirk's Volunteered Slavery
Sale price
$21.99
Regular price $26.99
Rahsaan Roland Kirk lived and breathed music, succeeding despite—or perhaps because of—being blinded in early childhood. Driven by vivid dreams, he learned how to play three saxophones simultaneously, could hold a note for hours, composed startlingly original tunes, and formed the Jazz and People’s Movement to spearhead the cause of “Black classical music.” A multi-instrumentalist wonder, Kirk worked tirelessly in the 1960s and 70s to expand the music’s audience and boundaries.
He could and would play with virtually anyone, be it John Coltrane, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimi Hendrix or The Mothers of Invention. Frank Zappa credited him as an influence. Eric Burdon & War recorded a song about him. And Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson got rich modeling his flute playing on Kirk’s fierce flute attack.
Whether on the stage of the Newport Jazz Festival, the Fillmore Auditorium, or The Ed Sullivan Show, Kirk was an unforgettable force. Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s Volunteered Slavery—with its special focus on that pivotal album—explores the music and mission of this extraordinary man.
Richard Watrous has loved Kirk’s music ever since first seeing him perform in 1971. He has written hundreds of concert, record, and film reviews. This is his second book.
He could and would play with virtually anyone, be it John Coltrane, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimi Hendrix or The Mothers of Invention. Frank Zappa credited him as an influence. Eric Burdon & War recorded a song about him. And Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson got rich modeling his flute playing on Kirk’s fierce flute attack.
Whether on the stage of the Newport Jazz Festival, the Fillmore Auditorium, or The Ed Sullivan Show, Kirk was an unforgettable force. Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s Volunteered Slavery—with its special focus on that pivotal album—explores the music and mission of this extraordinary man.
Richard Watrous has loved Kirk’s music ever since first seeing him perform in 1971. He has written hundreds of concert, record, and film reviews. This is his second book.