‘Ring’ Gathers Unreleased Live Recordings of Musical Eccentric

Rahsaan Roland Kirk was one of the true eccentrics of jazz. Blinded as a child, he spoke in later years of a dream he had in which he played two saxophones simultaneously. In fact, Kirk improved on his dream by occasionally playing three saxophones at the same time, and adding a battery of other instruments that included piccolo, harmonica, flute, nose flute and an array of his own mysterious instrumental concoctions.

But Kirk, who died of a stroke in 1977 at the age of 41, was no sideshow performer, despite the remarkable visual images he provided on stage. At his best--which was often--he was a solid improviser who generally used his instrumental gimmickry at the service of first-rate, driving contemporary jazz.

This week, 32 Jazz Records has released “Dog Years in the Fourth Ring,” a fascinating three-CD Kirk collection of previously unreleased live recordings, as well as his rarely heard Atlantic Records album “Natural Black Inventions: Root Strata.” And the collection is even more appealing for its opportunity to hear Kirk, who seldom performed material other than his own works, rendering his unique interpretations of pieces such as Burt Bacharach’s “I Say a Little Prayer,” Miles Davis’ “Freddie Freeloader” and John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps.”

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* “Dog Years in the Fourth Ring,” 32 Jazz Records, $24.98.