Triple Threat is the debut album by the jazz multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk. It was released through King Records in July 1957. It features performances by Kirk with James Madison, Carl Pruitt and Henry Duncan. The album features the first recorded examples of Kirk's trademark playing of multiple wind instruments at the same time as well as two tracks ("Stormy Weather" and "The Nearness of You") where he overdubbed manzello and tenor saxophone. Kirk would later state that the album "was about the third overdub record in black classical music". It was later re-released on the Bethlehem label as Third Dimension and on the Affinity label as Early Roots.Rahsaan Roland Kirk discography accessed 6 August 2009 The original release of the record received limited distribution and only became widely known after it was rereleased a few years prior to Kirk's death.Kruth, J. (2000) Bright Moments: The Life and Legacy of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Welcome Rain pg. 42
Track listing All compositions by Roland Kirk except where noted. "Roland's Theme" - 2:51 "Slow Groove" - 6:52 "Stormy Weather" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) - 4:38 "The Nearness of You" (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington) - 5:34 "A La Carte" - 2:22 "Easy Living" (Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin) - 4:40 "Triple Threat" - 2:29 Recorded in New York City on November 9, 1956
Personnel Roland Kirk - tenor saxophone, manzello, flute, stritch James Madison - piano Carl Pruitt - bass Henry Duncan - drums
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