New Day Jazz

Justin Desmangles

France and Bones sit in for Justin to visit with John Kruth, author of Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. We'll also enjoy his music, of course!

 

Charles Mingus:  “Their [critics] problem is that they don’t listen to him with their eyes closed. He can play any kind of music and he’s a great composer.”   

 

Mary Lou Williams:  "Rahsaan has driven lots of people against the wall.” 

 

Andrew Hill:  “Rahsaan represented a place where the past, present, and future met.  He played the history of the music in a creative manner."

 

Sonny Rollins:   “Rahsaan was initially viewed by many in the jazz community as gimmicky and illegitimate. However he soon demolished that perception by virtue of his superior artistry and nonpareil musicianship. Rahsaan was a living inspiration to all of us. I was blessed and privileged to have been a close colleague and buddy of his.” 

 

Dr. Yusef Lateef:  "He was a serious musician.” 

 

Quincy Jones:  “The black master of black classical music... Rahsaan Roland Kirk, one of the most unique and colorful creators in music.  He was the consummate musician. Such imagination. Such a creative individual. Distinctive. He was awesome, at the top of my list.”

 

Archie Shepp:  “He was a genius and he’s always been!” 

 

Anthony Braxton:  “Mr. Kirk was very inspirational and always helpful to the young guys.” 

 

Hilton Ruiz:  “Rahsaan was a true inventive genius. He’d find a way to play the music no matter what! He was always going forward, all the time.” 

 

 Joe Lovano:  “Just to be in the same room with him was a total inspiration. He gave me the courage and impetus to explore all the various woodwinds and flutes.” 

 

Hank Crawford:  "Roland was very well versed. He sounded like so many people - Sonny Stitt, Albert Ammons, or Bird."  

 

Steve Lacy:  “Roland was a sweetie, a beautiful sweet person,” 

 

Grover Washington:  “He was a master of composition."

 

Jon Hendricks:   “There is no doubt in my mind that Rahsaan Roland Kirk is one of the heirs to the mantle handed down by Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane as one of the primary exponents of saxophone playing in the world today, He will not be challenged!” 

 

Marvin Kobel:     “It was a learning experience. He was an intense cat. He didn’t compromise his music in any way. He was definitely a genius, a one of a kind!” 

 

Jeff Coffin:   “I stole a lot of stuff from Rahsaan. That’s what a lot of musicians get from Rahsaan—the permission to explore."

 

Jimmy Heath:  "I knew Rahsaan was going to endure, because he knew his history but wasn’t afraid to try something new.” 

 

 Jimi Hendrix, NYC, January, 1968: “I like things from Bach to Roland Kirk.  He hasn’t even started yet, Roland Kirk. That cat, really when you hear it, You can hear so much for the future too.  I mean not necessarily by notes but you can hear it by feelings.”

 

Hal Willner: “Zappa had great respect for Rahsaan. He listed his name on Freak Out! as an influence on the band.” 

 

Bob Drinkwater:  “The night of Rahsaan’s wake in New York, the Grammy Awards were on television. When Stevie Wonder won for his album Songs in the Key of Life, he dedicated it to Rahsaan’s memory.”

 

 Derek Trucks:   “The fact that Rahsaan continues to influence so many musicians so long after his life, is the true measure of his greatness."

 

 Chris Robinson:  ‘‘Rahsaan was a heavy cat, a great wellspring of inspiration.  Rahsaan played traditional music in an unconventional way. Real American music - like a road map of musical forms that goes back for eons. He’s got all the pieces that make up jazz - African and Caribbean with European music and the blues.” 

 

George Wein:  "He was a piece of surrealism all by himself.”

Genre

Jazz

Missed the Show?

MP3 320kbps, broadband