About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

The second volume in Collectables' Rahsaan Roland Kirk box sets -- all of which appeared as either two-fers or as separate albums earlier on Joel Dorn's 32 Jazz imprint -- is, to put it simply, shoving some CDs in a box. That said, this is the mighty Kirk, one of the greatest innovators in the history of jazz who has yet to receive his true props. It wasn't only the three saxophones or making his own instruments, it was his ability to see all music, whether jazz or blues or pop or soul or funk or rock or even classical music as one thing -- a universal form of expression that could all be melded seamlessly into a single approach that never discriminated. There is one classic Kirk album in this set, the mighty Volunteered Slavery, but the rest, such as Rahsaan Rahsaan, Prepare Thyself to Deal with a Miracle, Return of the 5,000 Lb. Man, Kirkatron, Meeting of the Times, and Ornette! (the latter two placed on a single disc) are nothing to sneeze at, either. Kirk was in a world of his own by the time most of these recordings were released. He had been dismissed by the jazz establishment with the exception of an enlightened few, and was making his living in Europe. These sides are essential to an understanding of his full life's work and should be heard by everybody! Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

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