Three for the Festival

Rahsaan Roland Kirk
16" x 12"
oil on canvas board, 2013

Another song (see previous post) that was also featured in the 100 Greatest Recordings Ever. Three for the Festival, together with Pedal Up, is one of a pair of Kirk recordings in The Greatest list as well as in the last three consecutive Top 100 lists. Three for the Festival is an early work of Kirk's from the album We Free Kings, he had not adopted the name Rahsaan yet but had changed his name Ronald to Roland. The tune continued to be on his repertoire as a showpiece for his trademark of playing three saxophones (as well as other instruments) at the same time. A score of live recordings can be seen on YouTube, one even more spectacular than the other. It's a classic great melody and composition, paired with Kirk's virtuoso.