This intimate recording captures Kirk at his innovative best, winding his way through a passionate set, dynamically intricate and powerfully intense.
Courtesy of Prescription PR ~ album release date September 2, 2022
Next month, London analogue specialists Gearbox Records will unearth yet another lost gem having just announced the worldwide release of a rare, previously un-released live recording of the legendary multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk.
The album, “Live at Ronnie Scott’s 1963” (out 9th Sept), features a mixture of originals and standards as well as the only known recording by Kirk of Duke Ellington’s “Angelica”. The recording also features a one-off line-up which includes a number of leading British jazz musicians of the time: Stan Tracey (piano), Malcolm Cecil (bass), and Ron Stephenson (drums).
Having influenced everyone from Hendrix, to Frank Zappa, to Paul Weller, Kirk’s influence has been far reaching. His genre – and rule – defying playing style saw him earn adoration across the jazz scene and beyond. This intimate recording captures him at his innovative best as he winds his way through an passionate set, which is dynamically intricate and powerfully intense.
The record will also be accompanied by liner notes which include an excerpt from an interview between Kirk and renown photographer and writer Val Wilmer from the same year as the recording. The album artwork also features a photo taken by Wilmer.
Originally released exclusively for Record Store Day, Gearbox Records are now giving the rare live recording of the highly influential, multi-instrumentalist a full worldwide release.
Available on limited distribution of 200g heavyweight vinyl, as well as standard vinyl, standard CD, Japanese-edition vinyl, and Japanese-edition CD.