Rahsaan Rahsaan Explained

Rahsaan Rahsaan
Type:	live
Artist:	Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Cover:	Rahsaan Rahsaan.jpg
Released:	1970
Recorded:	May 11, 12 & 15 1970
Genre:	Jazz
Label:	Atlantic
Prev Title:	Volunteered Slavery
Prev Year:	1968
Next Year:	1971

Rahsaan Rahsaan is a live album by jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk featuring performances recorded at the Village Vanguard in May 1970. It was originally released on the Atlantic label in 1970 and features performances by Kirk with Rahn Burton, Vernon Martin, James Madison and Joe Habad Texidor with Dick Griffin, Howard Johnson, Leroy Jenkins, Sonelius Smith and Alvern Bunn added on an extended track.^[1] The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek states "Rahsaan was the king of the riff—he could use it until it bit you—and once it did he was off and running someplace else, down on the hard-swinging outer spaceways of his mind and heart".^[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Roland Kirk except as indicated.

1. "The Seeker: Black Classical Rap / The Seeker / Thank You, Bird / New Orleans" – 17:18
2. "Satin Doll" (Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn) – 2:17
3. "Introduction" – 1:38
4. Medley: "Going Home" (Antonín Dvořák) / "Sentimental Journey" (Les Brown, Bud Green, Ben Homer) / "In Monument" / "Lover" (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) – 4:46
5. "Sweet Fire" – 6:10
6. "Introduction" – 3:19
7. "Baby Let Me Shake Your Tree" – 4:54

• Recorded in NYC on May 11 (track 1) and at the Village Vanguard, NYC on May 12 (tracks 3-7) & 15 (track 2), 1970

Personnel

• Roland Kirk

tenor saxophone, manzello, stritch, clarinet, flute, miscellaneous instruments

• Dick Griffin

trombone (track 1)

• Howard Johnson

tuba (track 1)

• Leroy Jenkins

violin (track 1)

• Rahn Burton

piano

• Sonelius Smith

celesta, piano (track 1)

• Vernon Martin

bass

• James Madison: drums
• Alvern Bunn: congas (track 1)
• Joe Habao Texidor

tambourine, chime tree

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/roland-kirk/catalog/#atlantic-sd-1575 Rahsaan Roland Kirk discography
2. Jurek, T. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r142197|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review] accessed 17 August 2009.