Artist page · 04/07/2026
About
14 key releases including rare 1970 Atlantic LP originals prized by collectors.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s approach to jazz combined technical mastery on saxophones, flute, and other woodwinds with experimental improvisation. He developed a unique breathing technique enabling him to play three horns simultaneously. A career spanning from the mid-1950s until his death in 1977, his recordings encompass free jazz, modal jazz, and soul jazz, released on labels including Atlantic and Scorpio.
Vinyl editions of his work are tracked closely for pressing quality and rarity, particularly his 1970 LP Rahsaan Rahsaan on Atlantic Records, offered in both original promo and standard releases. Collectors appreciate reissues and live recordings such as Live At Ronnie Scott's 1963 and Volunteered Slavery on 180g vinyl.
Discography
Studio albums, EPs and notable live records, from newest to oldest. Drag the timeline to browse.
Playlist
The tracks that sum up Rahsaan Roland Kirk's career.
The essentials
Our pick, validated by the editorial team.
A landmark studio album showcasing Kirk’s multi-horn techniques and soulful avant-garde style featuring expansive tracks like "The Seeker" and "Sweet Fire."
A robust live performance capturing Kirk’s dynamic playing and inventive arrangements, prized for its audiophile quality pressing.
Later release that blends soulful jazz with free jazz elements, reflecting Kirk's broad stylistic reach and continuing legacy on a modern pressing.
Go further
Artists who share part of Rahsaan Roland Kirk's musical DNA.
Collectors
The hidden side of the catalogue: rare pressings, sought-after matrices, Discogs values.
For each reference edition, these cards summarise the state of the global Discogs market. Market position places the average price of a copy between the observed min and max prices. Average price is the price seen for a mint-condition copy. Copies available counts listings currently for sale. Collectors who want it is the number of Discogs users who added it to their wantlist without owning it — a good signal of upcoming demand.
Face B
Studio secrets, touring anecdotes and B-sides worth the whole album.
"Rahsaan" signifies for him the 'music of the sun' and 'Black Vibrations', a name adopted after a 1969 dream.— Roland Kirk
The 1970 Atlantic LP Rahsaan Rahsaan was released in both promo and standard stereo formats, catalog number SD 1575. Original copies remain sought after, with original pressings valued at over 20 euros in the resale market.
The live album recorded at Ronnie Scott’s club in 1963 showcases Kirk’s early work in avant-garde and free jazz styles, capturing the energy of his performances in London.
Kirk developed a technique called 'breathing sphérique' allowing him to play multiple wind instruments simultaneously by inhaling through the nose while exhaling through the mouth.
Blind from age 2, Kirk was educated at the Ohio State College for the Blind until 1953, where he learned multiple instruments including saxophone and clarinet.
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was an American jazz multi-instrumentalist known for playing multiple saxophones simultaneously as well as flute and clarinet, blending jazz styles from free jazz to soul jazz.
Breathing sphérique is Kirk’s circular breathing technique that enabled continuous sound by inhaling through the nose while blowing through the mouth, allowing him to play three wind instruments at once.
Key albums include "Rahsaan Rahsaan" (1970 Atlantic LP), "Volunteered Slavery" (180g Scorpio pressing), and "Blacknuss" (modern release on Modern Harmonic).
Original 1970 promo pressings of "Rahsaan Rahsaan" on Atlantic Records can command prices above 20 euros, reflecting their collector interest and rarity.
French vinyl collectors can explore European reissues and imports through specialist dealers and platforms tracking live pressings like "Live At Ronnie Scott's 1963."
His simultaneous multi-horn playing and soulful phrasing distinguish him, combining avant-garde explorations with rhythmic grooves and modal jazz influences.
Notable live albums include "Volunteered Slavery", "Live At Ronnie Scott's 1963", and recent releases like "Seek & Listen: Live at the Penthouse."
Kirk was trained at the Ohio State College for the Blind, where he developed skills on saxophone, clarinet, trumpet, and other instruments during the 1940s and early 1950s.
Transparency
This page is compiled by the vinyles.com editorial team from public sources and our marketplace.
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