Rip, Rig and Panic (1965) -- with a stellar line-up of Jaki Byard, Richard Davis, and Elvin Jones -- is considered one of his most important albums.
Here Comes the Whistleman (1965) -- with Lonnie Liston Smith & Jaki Byard -- was recorded before a small audience in the Atlantic studios to replicate the vibe of a live show.
Slightly Latin (1965) features an octet, a choir on a few songs, a Burt Bacharach song, and a Beatles cover.
For some reason he didn’t record as a leader in 1966.
Now Please Don't You Cry, Beautiful Edith (1967) features a blues, the nice composition “...Edith”, and a Burt Bacharach song. Yes, that’s 2 albums in a row that Kirk covered a Burt Bacharach song, both originally recorded by Dionne Warwick.
The Inflated Tear (1967) is considered one of his most important albums and compositions. Here’s video of “The Inflated Tear” live in Prague 1967.
At this point, it seems clear that Kirk has almost entirely ignored the free jazz movement. He doesn’t tell his musicians what to play, just to play their asses off, and they all play what moves them -- but it’s definitely not free jazz. He seems to be a bulwark of traditional jazz, paying homage to the tenor greats as well as to Bechet and Ellington.
Kirk covered Ellington’s 1927 song “Creole Love Call” (which was actually the tune of “Camp Meeting Blues” written by Armstrong’s mentor King Oliver).
He preferred the term Black Classical Music. He loved Varese and other classical musicians.
Left & Right (1968) is Kirk with Strings, featuring the 20 minute sprawling Mingusian “Expansions” and a cover of the Mingus tune “IX Love” (“Duke’s Choice”).
Volunteered Slavery features his 1968 Newport concert as well as recordings from 1969… and a Burt Bacharach cover, naturally.
Jimi Hendrix jammed with Kirk’s band March 1969 in London. There’s a recording of it, but the sound quality is so bad that it hasn’t been released. Hendrix idolized Kirk and wanted to record with him.
Also in 1969, he played on Supershow with many other rock & blues luminaries:
“Say a Little Prayer” - Kirk Quintet
“Primitive Ohio” - Kirk Quintet
“Stormy Monday Blues” - Buddy Guy, Jack Bruce, Roland Kirk, Jimmy Hope & Ron Burton
“Slate 27” - Eric Clapton, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Roland Kirk, Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman
Kirk hung out a lot with Captain Beefheart. On "Ant Man Bee" Beefheart played 2 horns at once in homage to Kirk. Rahsaan's wife said, "[Beefheart] used to always come see Rahsaan whenever he played California. They'd sit around talking and smoking until all hours of the mornin'. He was crazy!"
Kirk also played with Zappa a couple times, and they wanted to make a record together. Eric Burdon & War made a tribute song called “Roll On Kirk”.
Other playlists:
I’ve only listened to The Inflated Tear - how similar stylistically are his other albums? I’ll doubtless check them out eventually!
I love that Supershow video - I think it was you who posted it here before. Not a career highlight for anybody present, but it’s always wild to see my childhood heroes from before I discovered jazz collaborating with musicians I discovered more recently.