Flotation Device celebrates Charles Mingus for his centenary with a survey of his complex sextet music, including a classic performance with Eric Dolphy and a newly-released 1972 recording from London. We also pay our respects to the late Harrison Birtwistle with an unusual and memorable work of his celebrating its 50th anniversary. Another 50th anniversary belongs to Morton Feldman, and one of his most beautiful compositions, inspired by a famous abstract painter.
We’ve got new tracks as well, from the OGJB Quartet (featuring Oliver Lake) and the new duet album by Matt Shipp and Michael Bisio. A lively and representative concertino by the late Philippe Boesmans rounds out the playlist. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, from KBCS-FM Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
Annotated playlist and photo credits with Comments.
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Another great show. One can never get too much Mingus!
Our sentiments exactly!
Flotation Device 2022-04-24: annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Charles Mingus (1922–1979) [0:00]
1. [1:49] Charles Mingus: Meditations (excerpt). From Cornell 1964 (Blue Note, 2007) with Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute, bass clarinet), Clifford Jordan (tenor sax), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Jaki Byard (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums). NOTE: Recorded live March 18, 1964 at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
2. [9:21] Charles Mingus: Orange Was the Color of Her Dress (excerpt). From The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's (Resonance, 2022) with Charles Mingus (bass), Charles McPherson (alto saxophone), Bobby Jones (tenor saxophone, clarinet), Jon Faddis (trumpet), John Foster (piano, vocals), Roy Brooks (drums, musical saw), George Klabin, Fran Gala (sound restoration). NOTE: Recorded live August 14–15, 1972 at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, London
3. [14:46] Charles Mingus: Mind-readers' Convention in Milano (excerpt). From The Lost Album from Ronnie Scott's (credits as above)⠀
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SET 2: Harrison Birtwistle (1934–2022) [25:18]
1. [30:49] Harrison Birtwistle: Chronometer. From Electric Calendar: The EMS Tapes (Space Age Recordings, 2015) with Peter Zinovieff (recording, realization, custom computer-controlled electronics). NOTE: Composed 1971, realized by Peter Zinovieff. Premiered April 24, 1972 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
2. [55:12] Outro with Birtwistle/Zinovieff: The Mask of Orpheus
3. [1:01:00] OGJB Quartet: OGJB #3. From Ode To O (Tum, 2022) with Oliver Lake (alto and soprano saxophones), Graham Haynes (cornet, electronics), Joe Fonda (double bass), Barry Altschul (drums, percussion), Jon Rosenberg (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded 2019⠀
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SET 3: Philippe Boesmans (1936–2022) [1:04:52]
1. [1:05:55] Michael Bisio, Matthew Shipp: Flow. From Flow of Everything (Fundacja Słuchaj, 2022) with Michael Bisio (double bass), Matthew Shipp (piano), Jim Clouse (recording engineer). NOTE: Bisio and Shipp's second duet album. Recorded 2021. Interesting piano pedal effects aided with zone miking that simulates the sound of multiple pianos spread stereophonically from left to right
2. [1:15:20] Philippe Boesmans: Capriccio for two pianos and orchestra. From Fin de nuit (Cypres, 2019) with David Kadouch, Julien Libeer (pianos), Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Gergely Madaras (conductor). NOTE: Composed 2010⠀
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SET 4: Rothko Chapel at 50 [1:30:49]
1. [1:33:08] Morton Feldman: Rothko Chapel. From Rothko Chapel, For Stephan Wolpe, Christian Wolff in Cambridge (hänssler Classic, 2002) with Kirsten Drope (soprano), Ulrike Becker (alto), Markus Stange (celesta), Meinhard Jenne (percussion), Barbara Maurer (viola), SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Rupert Huber (conductor), Friedemann Trumpp (recording engineer). NOTE: Premiered April 1972 at Rothko Chapel, Houston, TX
2. [1:56:52] Outro with Morton Feldman: The Viola in My Life
Photo credits: Charles Mingus stamp via USPS, Harrison Birtwistle by MITO SettembreMusica, Morton Feldman by Rob Bogaerts/Anefo, Michael Bisio and Matthew Shipp by Jason Moran, Barbara Maurer by Maurice Korbel, Mark Rothko by Denisova Olesya Alexandrovna, Charles Mingus Sextet (Clifford Jordan, Mingus, Dannie Richmond, Eric Dolphy, Johnny Coles) via Norway television, Philippe Boesmans by Bernard Coutant, OGJB Quartet (Joe Fonda, Oliver Lake, Graham Haynes, Barry Altschul) by Enid Farber.