1975 · Album
The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man
Recorded 1975 · Warner Bros. Records
Kirk's Full Power: Seven Tracks of Astonishment
Kirk's playing of saxophones, harmonica, flutes, and euphonium is deep, soulful, and even profound in places.
The Return of the 5000 Lb. Man finds Rahsaan Roland Kirk at full creative and musical strength, working with a hand-picked ensemble that gives him room to stretch across his full arsenal of instruments. The seven tracks here showcase Kirk doing exactly what made him singular in jazz — moving fluidly between saxophones, harmonica, flutes, and euphonium, sometimes within the same song, always with purpose. The rhythm section anchors everything: Hank Jones on piano provides elegant harmonic support, while the drums rotate between Charlie Persip, Bill Carney, and Jerry Griffin, giving the record a fresh feel across cuts. Buster Williams, Milt Hinton, and Mattathias Pearson share bass duties, and additions like Howard Johnson on tuba and Trudy Pitts on organ add textural color without cluttering the space.
This is Kirk operating without ego games or avant-garde posturing — just a musician deploying his technical command and emotional depth in service of actual songs. AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek nailed it: these seven tracks are an utter astonishment, the kind of record that works equally well as an entry point for newcomers and as essential listening for anyone already familiar with Kirk's powers. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings gave it three and a half stars, a respectful endorsement that reflects its solid, unpretentious strength.
If you know Kirk mainly from his harder experiments or his earlier Blue Note work, this record shows another side — a mature player confident enough to let melody breathe and rhythm settle, working with musicians who understand his language and know how to respond.
Who's playing
Buster Williamsbass
Milt Hintonbass
Mattathias Pearsonbass
Hank Jonespiano
William Butlerguitar
Trudy Pittsorgan
Charlie Persipdrums
Bill Carneydrums
Jerry Griffindrums
Joe Texidorpercussion
Warren Smithpercussion
Howard Johnsontuba
Rahsaan Roland Kirkwoodwind
Romeo Penquewoodwind
Hilton Ruizcelesta
Wilton Eatonwhistle
Freddie Moorewashboard
Arthur Jenkinskeyboard
Where next?
More by Rahsaan Roland Kirk
The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color 1975
Blacknuss 1972
Natural Black Inventions: Root Strata 1971
Boogie-Woogie String Along for Real 1978
The musicians on this record
Something More 1989
Buster Williams
plays bass here
plays bass here
♫
Harlem on Parade 77 1977
Hank Jones
plays piano here
plays piano here
