Customer Reviews

Inflated Tear

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Rahsaan Roland Kirk's "The Inflated Tear" is a terrific album by this underrated sax giant. The compositions are lively and diverse. He seems sometimes to somersault through several different schools of jazz within the same song, like on "The Black & Crazy Blues" which starts out like a New Orleans funeral march, slips into Ornette territory, crosses over a barroom blues and comes back again. That's just the one song; the rest are loaded with surprises. Adroit playing throughout, the band turns on a dime. This guy should have been three times as famous as he was. This Rhino reissue is really nice, with extended liner notes, pictures, and a little repro of the original album sleeve that the CD fits into. Overall, this is something that you really must have. The musical vision here is unique and yet it's accessible to anyone with an open mind and an open ear. And ya gotta love those "sirens," whistles, and musical effluvia that he throws in there. Great stuff!

...especially when one digests the incredible palette of sounds, rhythms, nuances, soul, chops and just plain ass-kicking tenor soloing such as Rahsaan's astounding circular breathing tour de force "Many Blessings" on this album. Such virtuosity never rings hollow among those who truly dig Kirk. Like Monk, Trane, Parker, etc., his influences reached far back so that he can indeed be a very deep meesenger. The same can be said for his ability to lead or be part of small and large ensembles (his collaborations with Mingus are brilliant). Kirk's eclectic musings are especially evident and rewarding on this recording, his first for Atlantic. Clearly a giant standing on his own among multi-reed players of his generation and beyond, only Dolphy can be taken just as seriously, especially due to the fact that each one has left the deepest impression as flutists as well as saxophonists.

The Inflated Tear is both challenging and accessible a rare combination at any time, but especially rare in the anything goes world of sixties jazz. A great musician, this is one of Kirk's best with great compositions of his own like the title track and Handful of Fives, but also an incredible version of Creole Love Call that displays once and for all that the outside musicians of the Sixties were part of the tradition. It's a shame that this is out of print. Buy it used while you can, and hopefully someone will reissue this.

Alot of variety in playing styles and instruments. A very important one to have and a standard for all Rahsaan collectors.

Only one word applies here: GENIUS.

Another word could work: ART.

Remember, folks, when "art" = brilliant creativity, technique acquired from years of woodshedding, a bit of madness, a tad of luck, and the recording machine running on a good day when everyone was in touch with the higher powers?

Rahsaan played many instruments, and invented circular breathing. He was an absolute wizard, and the man was blind. The sheer creativity, the textures, the musical language. Words can't communicate the beauty and magnificence in this set! It's jazz, but beyond that, it's phenomenal music. Everyone I've ever played this disc for is simply blown away. Bar none.

For those of you who don't know... Jimi Hendrix was one of Rahsaan's most avid fans and best friends. Just think about it! Jimi adored Rahsaan's music! That their jams were never recorded is one of the tragedies of music history. They planned to do a record together. The imagination runs wild...

I will never forget reading the liner notes for the first time [remember "liner notes?] Rahsaan said when he died he wanted his friends to cremate him, roll him in a joint and smoke him.

RIP beautiful genius.