Vibration Society – Spirits Up Above

Description

Rahsaan Roland Kirk once said “I don’t have to create a Vibration Society, it created us!” Saxophonist/Multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk was blind, but his music, compositions, arrangements and concepts were beyond any sighted musicians of his day and genre. As evidenced in the recent hit documentary “The Case of the One-Sided Drean”, his influence is not only still being felt, but is making an actual resurgence among millennials. Thus, we bring to you the one and only document of his “ghost” band, which presented, in an official capacity, his original music and spirit, at least for a few years in the 1980s. Named for his own band, The Vibration Society, it posthumously included Kirk alumni, Steve Turre (trombone), Hilton Ruiz (piano), as well as Jazz legends Bill Hardman (trumpet) and Junior Cook (tenor sax), who had been known for leading their own jazz combo at this time.

Rounded out by drummer Leroy Williams, and bassist Paul Brown, this musical tribute to Kirk’s spirit and compositions, provides an organic and musically intelligent view of Kirk the composer; something that has been slept on entirely among Rahsaan’s musical legacy, which makes this a very important record, recorded in 1986 in New Jersey.

1. Serenade To A Cuckoo (6:18)

2. Theme For The Eulipions (6:07)

3. A Handful Of Fives (4:26)

4. Spirits Up Above (6:48)

5. The Inflated Tear (3:02)

6. My Delight (6:38)

7. Bright Moments (5:00)

8. Steppin’ Into Beauty (8:06)

trumpet: Bill Hardman

trombone: Steve Turre

tenor sax: Junior Cook

piano: Hilton Ruiz

bass: Paul Brown

drums: Leroy Williams

vocals: Suzanne Klewan, Timmy Shepherd (track 2, 4, 7)

Recorded in West New York, New Jersey, Jan 14 & 15, 1986.