#57 Rahsaan Roland Kirk

18 May 2009

I could tell you that a cat can play five different horns and be a virtuoso on each……

The saxophone.

The manzello (which looks like an elongated saxophone).

The stritch.

The flute.

The Song Flute.

Now I mention he was abled to play 3 of them simultaneously?????…..

Now throw in that at times when he is performing a flute solo, he also reaches for his song flute and using his nose, he is able to perform a flute duet.

Now for kicks throw in that he was one of the most innovative artists of his generation and had one foot firmly planted in be-bop and the other fully planted in new jazz .

And he had one of the best, most unique styles ever. 

Lastly, top this all off by finally adding that he was blind since the age of two!

That is Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Now go and listen.