Kirk's Work

• Artist: Rahsaan Roland Kirk/Jack McDuff
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 11, 1961
• Total Time: 33:02
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Kirk's Work -- Rahsaan Roland Kirk's third long-player -- teams him up with organist "Brother" Jack McDuff for Kirk's most soulful post-bop set to date. His unorthodox performance style incorporates the polyphonies of a tenor sax, flute, manzello, and stritch. The latter instrument is Kirk's own modification of a second-generation B-flat soprano sax. This contributes to the unique sonic textures and overtones Kirk creates when playing two -- and often three -- of those lead instruments simultaneously. The loose and soulful nature of McDuff's Hammond organ lends itself to the swinging R&B vibe pervasive throughout the album. Completing the quartet is Joe Benjamin (bass) and Art Taylor (drums) -- both veteran jazzmen in their own right. They lend their expertise as well as innate sense of rhythm to the up-tempo "revival meetin'" rendition of Sammy Kahn's "Makin' Whoopee" as well as the ominous swing of the title track. This is also an ideal showcase for Benjamin and Taylor's running counterpoint that glides throughout -- supporting soloists Kirk and McDuff. Of the four original Kirk compositions, "Doin' the Sixty-Eight" is arguably the strongest. The percussive rhythms weave a hypnotic Latin groove over which Kirk and McDuff both snake some highly cerebral solos. The stellar interpretation of "Skater's Waltz" combines a well-known traditional melody with some of the most aggressive interaction from the quartet. The tune is put through its paces and the tenor sax/Hammond organ leads bounce around like a game of sonic ping pong. The more aggressive performance style that Kirk would later incorporate definitely shows signs of development on Kirk's Work. While certainly not the best in his catalog, it is a touchstone album that captures the early soulful Rahsaan Roland Kirk. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Three for Dizzy	Rahsaan Roland Kirk	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(5:14)
Makin' Whoopee	Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(5:09)
Funk Underneath	Rahsaan Roland Kirk	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(6:17)
Kirk's Work	Rahsaan Roland Kirk	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(3:56)
Doin' the Sixty-Eight	Rahsaan Roland Kirk	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(4:22)
Too Late Now	Burton Lane, Alan Jay Lerner	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(3:54)
Skater's Waltz	Emile Waldteufel	Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Jack McDuff	(4:24)

Credits

Rahsaan Roland Kirk (Flute), Rahsaan Roland Kirk (Sax (Tenor)), Rahsaan Roland Kirk (Stritch), Rahsaan Roland Kirk (Main Performer), Rahsaan Roland Kirk (Performer), Rahsaan Roland Kirk (?), Rahsaan Roland Kirk (Manzello), Art Taylor (Drums), Art Taylor (?), Zev Feldman (Assistant), Joe Benjamin (Bass), Joe Benjamin (?), Esmond Edwards (Supervisor), Rudy Van Gelder (Engineer), Rudy Van Gelder (Liner Notes), Rudy Van Gelder (Remastering), Joe Goldberg (Liner Notes), Joe Goldberg (Original Liner Notes), Jack McDuff (Organ), Jack McDuff (Organ (Hammond)), Jack McDuff (Main Performer), Jack McDuff (Performer), Nick Phillips (Reissue Producer), Rikka Arnold (Editorial), Stuart Kremsky (Reissue Production Assistance), Chris Clough (Reissue Production Assistance), Roland Kirk (Flute), Roland Kirk (Arranger), Roland Kirk (Sax (Tenor)), Roland Kirk (Manzello), Roland Kirk (Siren), Larissa Collins (Assistant)