I do not agree about the overorchestration
macfawlty | potomac, MD USA | 12/02/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think that this collection of titles is quite unique for rahsaan. They are a bit different from the Mercury recordings and not exactly straight ahead, but hell, I don't think rahsaan was very straight ahead for most of his life. This collection is VERY much worth the money for four albums and I LOVE THEM... actually, I love every one of the 40 or so Rahsaan discs I have on vinyl and CD. He is one artist that you should have every little piece of his and I intend to do just that. I also highly recommend the Mercury box set. Buy it as well, but remember, you'll still be missing alot of rahsaan. dfielding@figleaf.com"
Under appreciated!
G. R. Boutell | Saturn | 10/19/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Over orchestrated? I don't think so, but that's not the issue. This is a must have for any "long time fan" of Rahsaan. I still have all of these on vinyl and will surely be adding this box set to my collection too. Worth it just for Rahsaan Rhasaan although, Left & Right and Other Folks Music are good too. Even Stanley(the grouch) Crouch wrote a positive review on the LP version. Where can you get four discs for a deal like this?"
Somewhere Between a Masterpiece and Indulgent
directions | Space Time Foam | 05/31/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"To me, Roland Rahsaan Kirk reached his peak with "The Inflated Tear". After that, even though he still came out with some classic music, he tended to be somewhat self indulgent (i.e. using sound effects, spending too much time with dated hip talk on live recordings). If his music hadn't sold so well, he'd be classed as an outsider artist and he certainly has fans within the indie rock world such as Sonic Youth (considering that live, Kirk's performances would involve smashing up a chair, compared to many sedate jazz artists, he could be classed as punk, within the jazz community). As for these four albums, they have aspects of free jazz, hard bop, dixieland, ragtime, gospel, blues a full orchestra on some tracks, uncategorable experimentation including the use of home made instruments and as mentioned weird sound effects. Still within the realm of free jazz, I find this a lot more interesting than free jazz that is strictly avant-garde classical and are "compisitions" or tuneless blasting not grounded in anything musically (though that can be fun at times). I think that by including forms of jazz that were considered dated at that time along with the free jazz/playing 3 saxophones at a time out there aspects, Roland Rahsaan Kirk was trying to say that his music was not trying to pigeonhole itself but was open to all forms of jazz and that jazz was not evolutionary but that all styles from all eras were equally valid. That said "Left and Right" is the most solid album (even with the orchestrations), "Rahsaan, Rahsaan" is a classic concert. The other two albums, "Prepare Thyself.." and "Other Folk's Music" are not quite as good. However, no one can contest the statement that Kirk was probably the most unique jazz musician in history. His music takes some getting used to but once you readjust your sensors, you can find a lot that is rewarding."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1