We Free Kings

We Free Kings
Studio album by Roland Kirk
Released	1961
Recorded	August 16–17, 1961
Genre	Jazz
Length	38:40
Label	Mercury
Roland Kirk chronology
Kirk's Work (1961) We Free Kings (1961) Domino (1962)

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Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

We Free Kings is a 1961 LP by jazz multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk. It sees the group working through a set of bluesy post-bop numbers, including a highly regarded version of Charlie Parker's "Blues for Alice". The title track, a Kirk composition, is a variation on the Christmas carol "We Three Kings".

The Allmusic review by Lindsay Planer calls the album "among the most consistent of his early efforts. The assembled quartet provides an ample balance of bop and soul compliments to Kirk's decidedly individual polyphonic performance style. His inimitable writing and arranging techniques develop into some great originals, as well as personalize the chosen cover tunes. With a nod to the contemporary performance style of John Coltrane, as well as a measure of his influences — most notably Clifford Brown and Sidney Bechet — Kirk maneuvers into and out of some inspiring situations".

Track listing

All compositions by Roland Kirk except where noted.

1. "Three for the Festival" – 3:10
2. "Moon Song" (Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston) – 4:23
3. "A Sack Full of Soul" – 4:40
4. "The Haunted Melody" – 3:38
5. "Blues for Alice" (Charlie Parker) – 4:08
6. "We Free Kings" – 4:46
7. "You Did It, You Did It" – 2:29
8. "Some Kind of Love" – 6:11
9. "My Delight" – 4:28

• Recorded in New York on August 16, 1961.

CD editions of the album include an alternate take of "Blues for Alice" (Parker) - 5:11.

Personnel

• Roland Kirk: tenor saxophone, manzello, flute, stritch
• Richard Wyands: piano (tracks 3-5 & 9)
• Art Davis: bass (tracks 3-5 & 9)
• Charlie Persip: drums (tracks 3-5 & 9)
• Hank Jones: piano (tracks 1-2 & 6-8)
• Wendell Marshall: bass (tracks 1-2 & 6-8)