Rip, Rig and Panic (album)
Encyclopedia
Rip, Rig and Panic is a 1965 jazz album by saxophonist Roland Kirk. It was recorded at Rudy Van Gelder
's studio
by a quartet that sees Kirk accompanied by Elvin Jones
(drums), Jaki Byard
(piano), and Richard Davis (bass), who have been described as "the most awesome rhythm section he ever recorded with". The group works through a set made up primarily of original Kirk compositions.
Kirk made a lot of references to pioneers of jazz. "No Tonic Pres" is a reference to Lester Young
, "From Bechet, Byas, and Fats" is a homage to Sidney Bechet
, Don Byas
, and Fats Waller
, and "Once in a While" was inspired by Clifford Brown
. Kirk also mentioned the work of Edgar Varese, the compositions Poeme electronique and Ionisation, as inspiration for the album.
The title of the album was explained by Kirk in the liner notes as follows: “Rip means Rip Van Winkle
(or Rest in Peace?); it's the way people, even musicians are. They're asleep. Rig means like rigor mortis. That's where a lot of peoples mind are. When they hear me doing things they didn't think I could do they panic in their minds,”
The LP's title later provided the name for 1980s English funk group Rip Rig + Panic (with Neneh Cherry
).
The album was well received by the jazz critics. Richard Cook
and Brian Morton
rated the Emarcy-edition of the album with the second highest grade in their Penguin Guide to Jazz; Allmusic rated the album with five stars.
Rudy Van Gelder
Rudy Van Gelder is an American recording engineer specializing in jazz.Often regarded as one of the most important recording engineers in music history, Van Gelder has recorded several thousand jazz sessions, including many widely recognized as classics, in a career spanning more than half a century...
's studio
Van Gelder Studio
The Van Gelder Studio is a recording studio located at 445 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. It was set up in 1959 by Rudy Van Gelder and has been used to record many albums released by major jazz labels such as Verve Records, Blue Note, Prestige and CTI Records.-Background:After having...
by a quartet that sees Kirk accompanied by Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
(drums), Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard
Jaki Byard was an American jazz pianist and composer who also played trumpet and saxophone, among several other instruments. He was noteworthy for his eclectic style, incorporating everything from ragtime and stride to free jazz...
(piano), and Richard Davis (bass), who have been described as "the most awesome rhythm section he ever recorded with". The group works through a set made up primarily of original Kirk compositions.
Kirk made a lot of references to pioneers of jazz. "No Tonic Pres" is a reference to Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
, "From Bechet, Byas, and Fats" is a homage to Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
, Don Byas
Don Byas
Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, long-resident in Europe.- Oklahoma and Los Angeles :...
, and Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
, and "Once in a While" was inspired by Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown
Clifford Brown , aka "Brownie," was an influential and highly rated American jazz trumpeter. He died aged 25, leaving behind only four years' worth of recordings...
. Kirk also mentioned the work of Edgar Varese, the compositions Poeme electronique and Ionisation, as inspiration for the album.
The title of the album was explained by Kirk in the liner notes as follows: “Rip means Rip Van Winkle
Rip Van Winkle
"Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving published in 1819, as well as the name of the story's fictional protagonist. Written while Irving was living in Birmingham, England, it was part of a collection entitled The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon...
(or Rest in Peace?); it's the way people, even musicians are. They're asleep. Rig means like rigor mortis. That's where a lot of peoples mind are. When they hear me doing things they didn't think I could do they panic in their minds,”
The LP's title later provided the name for 1980s English funk group Rip Rig + Panic (with Neneh Cherry
Neneh Cherry
Neneh Mariann Cherry is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ and broadcaster...
).
The album was well received by the jazz critics. Richard Cook
Richard Cook
Richard David Cook was a British jazz writer, magazine editor and former record company executive.Sometimes credited as R. D. Cook, Cook was born in Kew, Surrey and lived in west London as an adult. He was co-author, with Brian Morton, of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings , now in its ninth...
and Brian Morton
Brian Morton
Brian Morton may refer to:*Brian Morton , American academic and novelist*Brian Morton , Scottish broadcaster, journalist and writer, who is most widely known as a jazz critic*Brian Morton...
rated the Emarcy-edition of the album with the second highest grade in their Penguin Guide to Jazz; Allmusic rated the album with five stars.
Track listing
- All compositions by Roland Kirk except where indicated.
- "No Tonic Pres" – 4:34
- "Once in a While" (Michael Edwards, Bud GreenBud GreenBud Green was an Austrian-born songwriter. Bud Green grew up in Harlem at 108th & Madison Ave. at the turn of the century, the eldest of seven. He dropped out of elementary school to sell newspapers and help the family...
) – 4:02 - "From Bechet, Byas, and Fats" – 6:31
- "Mystical Dream" – 2:39
- "Rip, Rig & Panic" – 7:00
- "Black Diamond" (Milt Sealey) – 5:23
- "Slippery, Hippery, Flippery" – 4:56
- Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on January 13, 1965
Personnel
- Roland Kirk: tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, stritchStritchStritch may refer to:* Stritch , musical instrument* Samuel Stritch , American cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church** Cardinal Stritch High School, Oregon, Ohio, named after him...
, manzelloManzello"Manzello" is the name that Rahsaan Roland Kirk gave to an HN White King Saxello onto which he had affixed a mellophone bell. See also stritch.-References:* The Oxford Companion to Jazz, edited by Bill Kirchner Oxford Press , p...
, fluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, sirenSirenIn Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
, oboeOboeThe oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
, castanets - Jaki ByardJaki ByardJaki Byard was an American jazz pianist and composer who also played trumpet and saxophone, among several other instruments. He was noteworthy for his eclectic style, incorporating everything from ragtime and stride to free jazz...
: pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Richard Davis: bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Elvin JonesElvin JonesElvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....