Roland Kirk - Here Comes The Whistleman (Recorded 'Live')

Here Comes The Whistleman 'Live' (Mono Edition on Orange Vinyl)

Cut all analog by Keving Gray at Cohearent Audio

Pressed on orange vinyl at Third Man Record Pressing!

First-ever mono reissue of Roland Kirk's Atlantic debut!

Sightless, peerless, multi-instrumentalist, Roland's Kirk's 1967 debut for Atlantic is a monster of a live set from 1965 featuring pianists Lonnie Liston Smith and Jaki Byard, bassist Major Holley and drummer Charles Crosby — all put to tape in Atlantic Studios NYC. Cut all analog, pressed on orange vinyl!

Think of Rahsaan Roland Kirk and a series of images flick through one's mind. There he is, black beret and shades blowing three saxophones at once, next he's draped in a kaftan with bells, horns, flutes, whistles and all manner of strange things hanging round his neck and then in a frock coat and top hat playing his saxophone on a street corner. He's one of the most surreal sights you've ever seen and each image contains a thousand narratives.

One of the things that made Kirk so special was his rapport with an audience. They weren't just there to watch and listen. They were part of the show. Kirk would hand out whistles to the punters then lead them pied-piper-like out of the club and into the street. Nothing beats having seen Rahsaan live but Here Comes The Whistleman is a fine live date with some great music, featuring separately pianists Jaki Byard and Lonnie Smith. In a way, the spoken intros are key to the atmosphere of the record. Kirk has the audience eating out of his hand and as soon as he puts the horn to his mouth you are there with him at that moment.

 

Side A

1. Roots

2. Here Comes The Whistleman

3. I Wished On The Moon

Side B

1. Making Love After Hours

2. Yesterdays

3. Aluminum Baby

4. Step Right Up

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