We Free Kings,
Roland Kirk's third long-player, is among the most consistent of his early efforts. The assembled quartet provides an ample balance of bop and soul compliments to
Kirk's decidedly individual polyphonic performance style. His inimitable writing and arranging techniques develop into some great originals, as well as personalize the chosen cover tunes. With a nod to the contemporary performance style of
John Coltrane, as well as a measure of his influences -- most notably Clifford Brown and
Sidney Bechet --
Kirk maneuvers into and out of some inspiring situations. His decidedly
'Trane-esque solos on "My Delight" are supported with a high degree of flexibility by one-time
Charles Mingus' pianist
Richard Wyands and
Dizzy Gillespie percussionist
Charlie Persip. The album's title track is a
Kirk original, based on the melody of the Christmas hymn "We Three Kings." Incorporating recognizable melodies into
Kirk's oft times unorthodox musical settings would prove to be a motif throughout his career. An example is the highly touted cover of
Charlie Parker's "Blues for Alice." This is an ideal avenue for the quartet to explore one of
Kirk's specialties -- the blues. The almost irreverent manner in which he fuses blues and soul music into the otherwise bop-driven arrangements is striking. "A Sack Full of Soul" is a funky number with a walking-blues backbeat that perfectly supports
Kirk's swinging solos. The stop time syncopation is reminiscent of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say." The 1987 CD version also includes an alternate take of "Blues for Alice." One additional track -- a cover of the
Frank Loesser standard "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year" -- was also recorded at these sessions and remained unissued until its inclusion on the ten-disc
Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk box set.