This is the One...
In the Seventies, I was too into Miles and Coltrane. I missed Rahsaan Roland Kirk passing by. Huge energy. Dig in!

Party Time with Rahsaan
I'm so happy this album is on CD. I was lucky enough to see R.R. Kirk during the same time period with the same band. We were young college students and expected some serious angry black jazz music.... INSTEAD we got to join Rahsaan in his warm joyous educational hysterical jazz party! The buzz from that night lasted for weeks! Well documented on this recording.

The in-between chatter on this recording only adds to the vibe. Hearing Rahsaan's raps almost made me cry now that he's been gone for so long. Pour yourself a cocktail, relax and let Rahsaan take you to his 'Bright Moments' place. You'll enjoy the journey.

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
THE CD BRIGHT MOMENTS IS A RECORDING OF A LIVE CONCERT THAT RAHSAAN DID IN THE MID-LATE 1970'S WHICH IS HIS MOST CREATVIE AND UNIQUE PERIOD OF HIS MUSIC. I REMEBER WHEN THIS CAME OUT IN THE 1970'S I HAD IT THEN AND I'M GLAD I HAVE A COPY NOW. THIS CD ENCOMPASSES ALL THAT'S GREAT ABOUT RAHSAAN: HIS POETRY, HIS ABILITY TO PLAY MANY DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS (SOMETIMES ALL AT THE SAME TIME), HIS USE OF MULTIMEDIA (SOUNDS EFFECTS) INCORPORATED INTO HIS MUSIC, ABILITY TO INTERPERET ANY KIND OF MUSIC, STANDARDS OR POPULAR MUSIC OF THE DAY, AND HIS UNIQUE VISION THAT HE BRINGS TO THAT MUSIC. I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LISTEN TO JAZZ THAT DISMISS RAHSAAN, CALLING HIM A ONE TRICK PONY, "Y'NOW THAT GUY THAT PLAYS ALL THOSE INSTRUMENTS AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THAT IS BECASUE THEY HAVE NEVER REALLY SAT DOWN AND LISTENED TO WHAT THE MAN WAS SAYING WITH HIS MUSIC, AND THE WAY HE SAID IT SO DIFFERENTLY FROM ANYONE ELSE. IT WAS INTERESTING TO READ IN AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY THAT IAN ANDERSON, THE GREAT FLUTIST AND FRONT MAN FOR THE ROCK BAND JETHRO TULL, CREDITED RAHSAAN AS HIS MAJOR INFLUENCE IN HIS FLUTE PLAYING. I SAW RAHSAAN PLAY LIVE A FEW TIMES AND I AM A FAN FOR LIFE, THE MAN IS JUST ONE OF THOSE RARE INDIVIDUALS THAT JUST OOZED TALENT. EVERY TIME I SAW HIM IT WASN'T JUST A SHOW, IT WAS AN EVENT.

A Genius Punches In For Work, And You Are There
Roland Kirk in person was something you just don't forget. He seemed able to do anything, and capable of doing anything. Some of his on stage raps and antics got him thrown out of clubs - flagged for life. "Volunteered Slavery" has some excellent live tracks, as does "Here Comes The Whistle Man", but Bright Moments does the best job of putting you inside the experience of a Rahsaan club date. It's a real musical journey and shows what a marvelous student of jazz he was. From the tasty tribute to Fats Waller, Jitterbug Waltz, to the NOLA visit, Dem Red Beans and Rice, Roland takes you traveling through space and time. The title track is an anthem delivered tenderly on flute, a loving dedication to the entire audience. (Kirk's flute playing ranked him #2 after Dolphy.) When he breaks out You'll Never Get To Heaven, and If I loved You, you can almost hear the club creaking on its foundations, he simply wears them out. Roland got his hat, no more live shows. But thanks to this CD, you can get pretty close.

One of my favorite records ever
Rahsaan Roland Kirk is one of the most interesting, if not the most interesting character in the history of American music. To top it off he was extremly talanted player. This recording is one of the few recordings I believe if one opens itself to, will take you out the doldrums no matter what tradegy has happened in this lifetime. Everything is essential here - the music, the crowd, the excellent sound, the rants, ect