Today's as good a day as any to re-post an essay of mine that was published in November by the Rumpus. It's the best introduction to how I discovered Rahsaan and remained under his spell all these years.
http://therumpus.net/2013/11/songs-of-our-lives-rahsaan-roland-kirks-the-inflated-tear/
And just when I think I can't possibly still be moved by Rahsaan's music as I was the first day I heard in 1995, I found myself yesterday en route to the grocery store reduced to tears as I was listening to his tribute to John Coltrane from his album, "Volunteered Slavery." Stumbling upon that song brought me back to that place I was a twenty-year old first discovering his sound. His music is still alive and his story will be told.
http://therumpus.net/2013/11/songs-of-our-lives-rahsaan-roland-kirks-the-inflated-tear/
And just when I think I can't possibly still be moved by Rahsaan's music as I was the first day I heard in 1995, I found myself yesterday en route to the grocery store reduced to tears as I was listening to his tribute to John Coltrane from his album, "Volunteered Slavery." Stumbling upon that song brought me back to that place I was a twenty-year old first discovering his sound. His music is still alive and his story will be told.
