Kirk, who died in 1977, was perhaps best known for his ability to perform on two saxophones simultaneously, but he was also a powerful soloist with a command of nearly every jazz style.

Turre performed with Kirk in the late 1960s, and it was Kirk who introduced Turre to the conch shell as an instrument. The gentle tone of the shells has since become a Turre trademark (though they don't appear on The Spirits Up Above).

Among the Kirk tunes on the album are "Volunteered Slavery," "Three for the Festival," and the title track.