William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Prepare Thyself to Deal With a Miracle ; Year: 1973; Genre: Jazz/Jazz Fusion/Hard Bop Jazz/classical This has to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have every heard written by musical master Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Whilst most would immediately think of "Black Classical Jazz Hard Bop" that he is most noted for; this one is an in-your-face fusion of Hard Bop and Contemporary Classical music. So many interesting and delightful sounds to be heard in this uplifting music.   Hear Seasons: One Mind Winter/Summer/Ninth Ghost on YouTube.         My song pick 1 year ago today: The Kinks - Death of a Clown     My song pick 2 years ago today: Faith No More - A Small Victory   My song pick 3 years ago today: The Offspring - Pay the Man   My song pick 4 years ago today: Marillion - Living in F E A R   My song pick 5 years ago today: Black Label Society - The Day That Heaven Had Gone Away   My song pick 6 years ago today: Electri...

From: Triple Threat ; Year: 1957; Genre: Hard Bop Jazz I think I have said it before, but Hard Bop is by far my favourite Jazz form out there, and Roland Kirk was a true master on the cutting edge. I've had people ask me what exactly is Hard Bop and the easy definition is that it's an evolution of Bebop that emphasizes the melody over all else rather than improvisation you see with many other forms in the "Bop" family. By no means is this at the expense of virtuosity and exhibition of amazing players; it is just very polished and more like, as Rahsaan Roland Kirk stated: "Black Classical Music," which is very apt description. It is technical jazz music that most would sit through and enjoy, hanging on every note played.   Hear Slow Groove on YouTube.       My song pick 1 year ago today: Sly Stone - His Eye Is on the Sparrow   My song pick 2 years ago today: Roy Eldridge and Benny Carter - Close Your Eyes   My song pick 3 years ago today: Jigsaw - One Wa...

From: Blacknuss ; Year: 1971; Genre: Jazz/Traditional Wow, it's my last post of 2013; tomorrow will be the start of another year of blogging about songs. Anyway, I was thinking about this song the other day and decided to see if someone had uploaded it and lo and behold someone had, so I'm picking it. Blacknuss is a truly amazing album, which I happen to have found some years ago at a yard sale. To say the least I was amazed when I head this song come on; I absolutely love what he did with this sacred classic mixing in all of the jazz and blues elements, plus his monologing, which he was known for, added so much to it. It's a truly great song to usher out the year with! Catch you all next year! Hear Roland Kirk's version of Old Rugged Cross on YouTube. My song pick a year ago today: Mahavishnu Orchestra - One Word My song pick two years ago today: The Alan Parsons Project - The Raven My song pick three years ago today: Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - ...

1209 Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Bright Moments Felt like listening to and picking a Roland Kirk track this morning; I had quite a few of his songs in mind, but in the end, for no apparent reason, I went for this track. I am unsure if this was ever recorded in the studio, but for me most any form of Jazz is best heard live anyway. This is one of the songs which showcases Rahsaan Roland Kirk's flute playing; in my opinion if he's not the best Jazz flautist ever he's right there with whoever is. The most popular piece you hear today featuring his flute playing would have to be Quincy Jones' Soul Bossa Nova , (the theme from the Austin Powers Movies). Actually he is probably best known for is his saxophone playing, which he would play up to three at the same time. He also played quite a few other instruments of which he was at the master level, usually when someone plays that many instruments they become a "jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none," but that wasn...

I came across this song a while ago and immediately fell in love with it. Most who think of the title: "Multi-Instrumentalist" or "Poly-Instrumentalist" one conjures up the idea of someone dubbing tracks on a recording. Roland Kirk was one that took that title to where many others could and cannot, because he was able to play multiple instruments live at the same time. He was one of the most amazing musicians of the last century; it was a shame that, like many other Jazz greats, that his life was cut short. Here is a live performance on YouTube. +

Most likely today Rahsaan Roland Kirk is best known as the flautist who played on Quincy Jones' Soul Bossa Nova ; most would remember this song as the Austin Powers movie theme. However, Roland Kirk is actually one of the most unique Jazz musicians and is considered the master of black classical music. One of the more interesting aspects of his performances is that he plays multiple reed instruments at the same time and he used circular breathing so he could sustain a note indefinitely. This song has some of the most beautiful and intricate flute music and definitely blurs the line between classical and Jazz. Here is a studio version on YouTube. +