The Quiet One

Columbus music and culture

Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Bright Moments

The fellow passengers aboard the Columbus Transit Company bus headed toward West Mound Street and Jets Stadium in 1955 may or may not have realized they were witnessing the beginning of a friendship that would help shape jazz history. Roland Kirk was already something of a local prodigy. Todd Barkan was a young pianist and devoted jazz fan. Their chance meeting that day forged a bond that would last a lifetime and leave an indelible mark on both of their careers. Rahsaan Rola

Drew Layman

1 day ago4 min read

Introducing Roland Kirk

By 1960, it had been three years since King Records released his debut Triple Threat album and Roland Kirk had left Columbus for good. He felt underappreciated in his hometown, but more than anything he felt he was being pigeonholed as a “local artist.” “You have to be a gypsy in this country to make money,” Kirk later told an audience at the Village Vanguard. “When you stay in one place you get tagged and the guys say, ‘Oh that’s a local group, y’know.’” He toured more natio

Drew Layman

Jan 7, 20238 min read

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