Blind American Jazx Multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk had an amazing arsenal of tricks up his sleeve. He played sax, clarinet, trumpet, & flute, etc and whats more, often several of them simultaneously, effectively making him a one man horn section. He pioneered a circular breathing technique which allowed him to hold notes and 16th note runs for for any period of time. He could also could sing into his flute exactly what he was playing, a talent which Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull seized upon and ripped off ad nauseum.
Check out the flute solo in the middle of this track from his debut on Mercury Records in 1961. I love the way he punctuates it with a slide whistle exclamation point.
Three for The Festival
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