Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Jack McDuff - Kirk's Work

Title: Kirk's Work Artist: Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Jack McDuff Release Date: 7/11/1961 Re-Released On: 5/1/2007 Label: Prestige/OJC, JVC Compact Discs, Ojc, Jvc Victor, Fantasy/OJC, Prestige Records Duration: 33:02 UPCs: 025218645928, 4988002407231, 4988002509225, 888072301610, 0090204066261, 0090204871216, 090204066261, 090204082193, 498800240723 Genre: Jazz Styles: Modern Creative, Soul Jazz, Post-Bop, Hard Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz Moods: Boisterous, Bravado, Eccentric, Elaborate, Enigmatic, Exuberant, Freewheeling, Intense, Knotty, Passionate, Playful, Searching, Sophisticated, Uncompromising, Visceral, Ambitious, Amiable/Good-Natured, Confident, Dramatic, Earnest, Earthy, Humorous, Irreverent, Literate, Lively, Organic, Outrageous, Quirky, Rousing, Sentimental, Sprawling, Stately, Street-Smart, Theatrical, Whimsical, Witty, Wry Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Three for Dizzy
2. Makin' Whoopee
3. Funk Underneath
4. Kirk's Work
5. Doin' the Sixty-Eight
6. Too Late Now
7. Skater's Waltz

Year Type Label Catalog # 2007 CD Prestige Records 30161 2006 CD JVC Compact Discs 60673 2006 CD Jvc Victor 41660 2000 CD Ojc 204592 1994 CD Ojc 204592 1991 CD Prestige/OJC OJCCD-459-2 1990 CD Fantasy/OJC 4592

No other editions were found for this album.

Kirk's Work -- Rahsaan Roland Kirk's third long-player -- teams him up with organist "Brother" Jack McDuff for Kirk's most soulful post-bop set to date. His unorthodox performance style incorporates the polyphonies of a tenor sax, flute, manzello, and stritch. The latter instrument is Kirk's own modification of a second-generation B-flat soprano sax. This contributes to the unique sonic textures and overtones Kirk creates when playing two -- and often three -- of those lead instruments simultaneously. The loose and soulful nature of McDuff's Hammond organ lends itself to the swinging r&b vibe pervasive throughout the album. Completing the quartet is Joe Benjamin (bass) and Art Taylor (drums) -- both veteran jazzmen in their own right. They lend their expertise as well as innate sense of rhythm to the up-tempo "revival meetin'" rendition of Sammy Kahn's "Makin' Whoopee" as well as the ominous swing of the title track. This is also an ideal showcase for Benjamin and Taylor's running counterpoint that glides throughout -- supporting soloists Kirk and McDuff. Of the four original Kirk compositions, "Doin' the Sixty-Eight" is arguably the strongest. The percussive rhythms weave a hypnotic latin groove over which Kirk and McDuff both snake some highly cerebral solos. The stellar interpretation of "Skater's Waltz" combines a well-known traditional melody with some of the most aggressive interaction from the quartet. The tune is put through its paces and the tenor sax/Hammond organ leads bounce around like a game of sonic ping pong. The more aggressive performance style that Kirk would later incorporate definitely shows signs of development on Kirk's Work. While certainly not the best in his catalog, it is a touchstone album that captures the early soulful Rahsaan Roland Kirk. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Name Credits Art Taylor Drums, ? Chris Clough Reissue Production Assistance Esmond Edwards Supervisor Jack McDuff Performer, Organ, Organ (Hammond) Joe Benjamin ?, Bass Joe Goldberg Liner Notes, Original Liner Notes Larissa Collins Assistant Nick Phillips Reissue Producer Rahsaan Roland Kirk Stritch, Performer, Arranger, Sax (Tenor), ?, Manzello, Siren, Flute Rikka Arnold Editorial Rudy Van Gelder Engineer, Liner Notes, Remastering Stuart Kremsky Reissue Production Assistance Zev Feldman Assistant