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Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Rahsaan- The Complete Mercury Recordings O [2021]

For enthusiasts of "Black Classical Music"—a term coined by the legend himself—few releases hold as much weight as This massive 10-CD (plus one bonus disc) box set, released by Verve/PolyGram in 1990, chronicles the most transformative years of a musician who was often dismissed as a "gimmick" act before being recognized as a multi-instrumental visionary.

For those lucky enough to own the original 1990 compact disc release, the packaging itself is a work of art. The box (designed by David Laufer) features striking period photography of Kirk with his famous "horn collection" hanging around his neck like a bandolier of ammunition.

When Kirk signed with Bob Thiele’s Limelight/Mercury family, the freedom of the 60s was curdling into the turbulence of the late 60s. The music was changing. John Coltrane had passed away; the "New Thing" was becoming the establishment; and funk, rock, and soul were invading the jazz lexicon.

A chair creaks. A door opens. Footsteps. Then nothing.

The set includes several of Kirk’s most essential albums in their entirety, alongside a wealth of unissued material: