Roland Kirk is a tough one to pigeonhole for those who subscribe to the linear-progressive model of jazz history — that style A begat style B, etc. and that each was an advancement over the other. What to do with Kirk, a man whose musical technique was highly sophisticated, yet whose performance style drew from vaudeville, carnies, and chitlin’ circuit R&B? It’s as if Kirk’s purpose was to confound the rigid, delight the open-minded, all while he inhaled the entire jazz continuum and exhaled it out of every horn he could cram into his mouth. He was a tremendous live performer, which makes any newly discovered concert recordings welcome, but even more so in the case of this (tackily titled) CD, as it features an amazing performance captured in good fidelity.

The date on the calendar might have been 1972, but Kirk had John Coltrane heavy on his mind that night, performing four tunes composed by or associated with ‘Trane and cramming in so many jaw-dropping solos that you can practically hear him calling out to his departed friend and mentor.  Kirk was fond of medleys and juxtapositions of high and low culture, so you’ll find renditions of then-popular tunes like “Make It with You” and “My Girl” as segues into steam-heat intensity saxophone improvisations that sound like a clinic in horn technique. The version of “Blue Train” circulated in bootleg form for years, and I remember hearing it at a Sun Ra symposium given by Kidd Jordan in the mid-’90’s.  Kidd played the tape and was marveling at Kirk’s astounding playing and bottomless well of ideas, shaking his head and saying, “Man, doesn’t that just make you want to practice more!”  This disc is worth getting for that track alone, and the rest is of it is just as good.