Sweet Fire. A Jazz Hour with Roland Kirk [live]

Sweet Fire is an unauthorized recording of Rahsaan Roland Kirk playing live in Europe in 1970, perhaps in Paris. This may also have been a radio broadcast, but the source is not clear. Kirk was touring behind the massively underrated Rahsaan Rahsaan at the time, and a number of selections from this set reflect that LP's track list. First, the facts: Kirk's band at the time consisted of trombonist Dick Griffin, pianist Ron Burton, drummer Harold White, percussionist Joe Texudor, and bassist Vernon Martin. Most of what is here is made up of medleys, some of which are simply amazing (in terms of performance, not sound), including the outrageously soulful triptych of "Love for Sale," "Bag's Groove," and "My Cherie Amour." One of the most kinetic versions of "Three for the Festival" is here, and another medley of "Sweet Fire" and "Roller Coaster" goes on for nearly 22 minutes with plenty of heart from Kirk -- who is in excellent form, as is his surprisingly canny rhythm section. Certainly this not a proper introduction to Kirk's work, but it is a hot little item for real fans who quite understandably need every note the man ever recorded, substandard sound quality or not.