Prestige
1961
Pre Rahsaan
About This Album
This disc places (pre-Rahsaan )Roland Kirk's 1961 session Kirk's Work, the multi-instrumentalist's second album after one for Argo (Cadet) together with a prime, 1968 Jaki Byard LP on which Kirk was a sideman called The Jaki Byard Experience. This was a way Prestige (then owned by Fantasy Records) of packaging its catalog. They did two-fers like this one, as well as career retrospectives, on any number of artists in double-LP sets. In the early 21st century, these are being remastered and reissued on CDs in the label's Architects of Jazz series. Kirk's date puts him in the company of organist (pre-Brother) Jack McDuff, drummer Art Taylor, and bassist Joe Benjamin. The program consists of four originals and three standards. While Kirk is very sure of himself here, the backing trio seems to have some difficulty with the sharp changes in tempo and dynamic he puts across. McDuff has the ability to comp throughout, but takes some chances anyway on the slyly beautiful and saucy "Makin' Whoopee," and on Kirk's killer early soul-jazz number "Funk Underneath." Taylor and Benjamin aren't nearly as sure of themselves, although they clearly try to provide support.
Track List (try tracks 11,12 and 13)

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