The French label Transversales Disques continues its string of brilliant live ORTF recordings captured at Grand Auditorium’s Studio 104 in Paris’ Maison de la Radio (aka the headquarters of Radio France) with an early 70s session from legendary jazz multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk. This is the latest in a growing series that has included jazz greats Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Don Cherry, and Ahmad Jamal.

Recorded live on February 22, 1970, this soulful spiritual jazz set included many of Rahsaan’s most notable works, including “Sweet Fire”, “The Inflated Tear”, “Three for the Festival”, “Volunteered Slavery”, and a superb rendition of Stevie Wonder’s classic “My Cherie Amour”, which studio version also appeared on the 1969 album Volunteered Slavery.

The stellar lineup for this date included Rahsaan, who famously played numerous wind instruments at once, on stritch, soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet, and manzello, Dick Griffin on trombone, Ron Burton on piano, Vernon Martin on double bass, Jerome Cooper on drums, and Joe Texidor on percussion.

Overall, another remarkable and well-crafted recording from one of the true jazz pioneers, capturing the passion, soulfulness, and virtuosity of what it was like to witness Rahsaan Roland Kirk and this impressive ensemble live.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk — ‘Live in Paris 1970’
(Transversales Disques)

1. Sweet Fire
2. The Inflated Tear
3. Three For The Festival
4. My Cherie Amour
5. Volunteered Slavery

BUY RECORD

• Jazz
• Reissue
• Spiritual Jazz