We Free Kings (LP)

Known as a then-young Kirk’s more consistent works, 1962’s We Free Kings is a solid balance of bop with complimenting soul, backed by two different rhythm sections — one including Hank Jones (piano) and Wendell Marshall (bass), and the other with Richard Wyands (piano) and Art Davis (bass), while Charlie Persip (drums) maintains throughout. The repertoire is primarily a showcase of Kirk’s skill is a composer, though his take on Bird’s “Blues For Alice” is not to be missed. Verve’s Acoustic Sounds Series features transfers from analog tapes and remastered 180-gram vinyl in deluxe gatefold packaging.