Review Summary: Black Classical Music.
The world has never quite seen someone like Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The blind multi-instrumentalist was a subverted destroyer of the expected, going as far as performing with multiple brass instruments at the same time. He did so often too; it was a staple of his. While it may seem gimmicky, it worked magnificently, making for a unique and irreplaceable sound. He was an absolute tour de force that could simply not be stopped.
Rahsaan, being an indomitable musician, was ever-changing and ambitious in nature. One of the boldest and most rewarding decisions in his career was made with I Talk With the Spirits. Instead of using sax and other wind instruments, he decided to only use flutes on his own throughout the album. The rather confusing decision actually turned out to be stunning. The flutes, sometimes various played at once, provide for textures never before seen on a jazz album. Expertly crafted melodies played on them tease the eardrums whilst expanding the standards of melody itself, proven by the innovative way they are organized and performed. It is all taken a step further by Rahsaan’s approach that applies an experimental edge without overusing it; he hums the notes while playing them. As if that wasn't enough, his charismatic interactions with the band are heard often on the album, resulting in a feelgood vibe that evokes a stage presence outright inimitable. The amalgamation of elements couldn't be pulled off by anyone else but the master himself.
Following Rahsaan’s legendary performance, the rest of the band opted for a rather particular use of jazz as well. Instead on focusing on it as a genre, they used it to complement their traditional blues sound. And damn does it make the music smoother than silk. I mean,
very smooth. They also somehow managed to include some avant-garde, improvisation and interludes without ruining the flow of the songs. To complement these styles, the band incorporated alternative instrumentation with tremendous effect. The varying soundscapes add a layer of class and virtuosity to the music in a very natural manner. What the band created was nothing less than beauty through sound.
When all is said and done, it is irrefutable that I Talk With the Spirits is a legendary gem of jazz. Well, it's not only that. It's a delicate expression of sound that only Rahsaan could coin a term for himself: Black Classical Music. Oh, and what an ornate pleasure it is.
