Brotherman in the Fatherland

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

Blind jazz musician Rahsaan Roland Kirk is often remembered for his incredible ability to play three horns simultaneously--which made him a virtual one-man brass section. A master of circular breathing, he was also able to hold a note almost indefinitely. But his music went beyond mere gimmickry, and his exuberance sprang from a deep understanding of numerous musical vocabularies, from New Orleans roots through bebop and free jazz to pop. He was the leader on dozens of albums from the 1950s up until his death from a stroke after a performance in 1977.