After the intro, Kirk feels around for the mikes, to make sure they’re in the right place, and starts playing both saxophones slung around his neck. During this tune, he remembers a few of his favorite things for a few moments, like a seemingly random thought that pops up in the middle of a conversation. At the end, he’s gone full blown and his saxophones sound like a stylized warning siren.

In addition to Rahsaan Roland Kirk playing a variety of saxophones, flutes and whistles, McCoy Tyner was limited to playing one piano, Stanley Clarke stayed with one bass throughout the performance, and Lenny White rounded out the rhythm section on drums.

Here, Kirk shows us how it’s done on Burt Bacharach’s ‘I Say a Little Prayer,’ made mainstream by the talented Miss Dionne Warwick and made soulful by the also talented Miss Aretha Franklin.

No one beats Kirk’s bling. I mean, it’s woodwinds and whistles.

This is very high on the "whaaaaa?" list:

It’s an unlikely pairing, but it’s legit: Elton John sings on “Black Gives Way to Blue,” the title track on Alice in Chains‘ September 29th album. The song is a tribute to the band’s late frontman Layne Staley, who died in 2002 from a lethal speedball, and the collaboration was born when singer-guitarist Jerry Cantrell thought the track could use a little piano.

When a pal suggested Cantrell ring up Sir Elton John, “I remember laughing and saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll get right on that,’ ” Cantrell says in a statement. “But I decided it was worth trying and wrote Elton an e-mail explaining what that song means to us — that it’s a real, raw openhearted song for Layne.” The band sent John the track and were “blown away” when he quickly responded saying he was in. “Elton John is a huge influence on me as a songwriter and having him on that song is an amazing honor for us,” Cantrell adds.

John reveals that he’s been a “an admirer of Jerry Cantrell” for quite some time, and “couldn’t resist” the offer. “It was a great recording session with Alice In Chains for a beautiful song,” John says in a statement.

What's next, Aretha Franklin on the next Stone Temple Pilots disc? Actually, that's not such a bad idea...

Lookout, NYC midtown traffic:

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, U2, Paul Simon, Metallica, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Friends and Simon and Garfunkel are among the legendary artists confirmed for a landmark two-night concert event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Sprawling across October 29th and 30th at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the shows will feature Hall of Fame acts sharing the stage with guests and collaborators, honoring their influences and essentially retracing the history of rock in the process. For example, Crosby, Stills and Nash will share the stage with California-based artists while Metallica will lead a hard rock portion of the concerts. Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin will also each front a soul revue with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.

They're going to cram all these artists who could sell out Madison Square Garden in their own right into a 2 night event? Looking forward to the live stream. We'll keep you posted as acts get added.

For my babies, who have given me the honor of my life: being their mom. And for my mom and her mom and all the smart, feisty, loving, opinionated women from whom I have learned so much.

Happy Mother's Day to all past, present and future moms.

Mockingbird, h/t Skippy

It's not triumphalism. It's Aretha.