Roland Kirk - Reeds and Deeds

One of the guys whom I first focused on at The Crypt nearly 4 years ago now. I've always preferred the Mercury Kirk to the Atlantic Kirk and I'll never understand why certain of these albums are never in print.

Of all the forgotten Kirk albums, the failure to keep this one in print would have to be the most mystifying. A true lost gem that now days can only be reconstructed from the out of print Mercury Kirk box. The album features a larger ensemble than previous sessions but the many voices and colors of Kirk's axes are undiminished. Check out the wonderful trumpet work by Virgil Jones and the burning trombone solos by Charles Greenlea. A masterpiece start to finish that stands up to anything from the Mercury era.

Roland Kirk: Reeds and Deeds
Mercury 20800, 1963

01 Reeds and Deeds 5:20
02 Hay Ro 3.04
03 This Is Always 4:20
04 Song of the Countrymen 6.56
05 Limbo Boat 3:02
06 Lonesome August Child 4:36
07 Land of Peace 5:54
08 Waltz of the Friends 4.40


Recorded in New York, February 25-26, 1963


[track. 2, 5-8]
Roland Kirk (ts, manzello, stritch, fl, siren)
Virgil Jones (tp)
Charles Greenlea (tb)
Harold Mabern (p)
Abdullah Rafik (b)
Walter Perkins (ds)

[track 1,3,4]
Arranged & Conducted By: Benny Golson
Roland Kirk (ts, manzello, stritch, fl, siren)
Virgil Jones (tp)
Tom McIntosh (tb)
Harold Mabern (p)
Richard Davis (b)
Walter Perkins (ds)