Flotation Device pays homage to Abdul Wadud (1947–2022) and Salman Rushdie in this special podcast. We honor jazz history's prototypical jazz cellist with a selection of tracks featuring Wadud alone and with the likes of Julius Hemphill, Arthur Blythe and James Blood Ulmer. And the world's most prominent symbol of freedom of speech is honored with settings of his words by Bono and Charles Wuorinen.
Our “50 years ago in the avant-garde” feature looks back at Miles Davis’s densest, most exploratory period, examining its impact on contemporary avant-fusion as exemplified by The Vex Collection and the Brandon Seabrook Trio. Derek Bermel offers a more folk-inflected kind of fusion in his new album, while Vesal Javaheri represents the Iranian musical underground. A pair of postminimalist-informed stylings by Misha Penton and Mary Finsterer, plus a Stockhausen anniversary cameo, round out the playlist. Creative and improvised music that you won’t find on any Supreme Leader's playlist.
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Flotation Device 2022-08-21: annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: The Rushdie Verses [0:00]
1. [1:31] Bono, Salman Rushdie: The Ground Beneath Her Feet. From The Million Dollar Hotel (Island/Interscope, 2000) with Daniel Lanois (pedal steel), U2: Bono (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), The Edge (lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), Larry Mullen Jr. (drums and percussion)
2. [5:16] Salman Rushdie on Charlie Hebdo: Freedom of speech must be absolute. Recorded January 2015 at University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
3. [6:49] Charles Wuorinen, Salman Rushdie: Haroun and the Sea of Stories (excerpts). From Haroun and the Sea of Stories (BMOP/sound, 2020) with Haroun Khalifa: Heather Buck (soprano), Rashid Khalifa: Stephen Bryant (bass-baritone), Snooty Buttoo: Matthew DiBattista (tenor), Butt the Hoopoe: David Salsbery Fry (bass), Iff the Water Genie: Brian Giebler (tenor), Mali/King of Gup: Wilbur Pauley (bass), Oneeta/Princess Batcheat: Michelle Trainor (soprano), Mr. Sengupta/Khattam-Shud: Neal Ferreira (tenor), Soraya: Heather Gallagher (mezzo-soprano), Prince Bolo: Charles Blandy (tenor), General Kitab: Aaron Engebreth (baritone), Bagha: Thomas Oesterling (tenor), Goopy: Steven Goldstein (tenor), Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Chorus, Gil Rose (conductor), Joel Gordon (engineering). NOTE: Premiered in 2004 by New York City Opera⠀
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SET 2: Abdul Wadud (1947–2022) [18:55]
1. [23:32] Julius Hemphill/Abdul Wadud Duo: Rhapsody. From The Boyé Multi-National Crusade For Harmony (New World, 2021) with Julius Hemphill (alto and soprano saxophone), Abdul Wadud (cello). NOTE: Recorded in the 1970s on cassette by Julius Hemphill
2. [34:11] Arthur Blythe: Carespin' with Mamie. From Illusions (Columbia, 1980) with Arthur Blythe (alto saxophone), James Blood Ulmer (guitar), Abdul Wadud (cello), Bob Stewart (tuba), Bobby Battle (drums), Don Puluse (recording engineer)
3. [41:19] Outro with Abdul Wadud: Happiness
4. [46:58] Vicente Hansen Atria: Dirge. From The Vex Collection (Carrier, 2022) with gamin (piri, taepyeongso), Matthew Welch (great highland bagpipe), Mat Muntz (contrabass, creski meh, Micro-Aulos, Neo-Carnyx, Bombard, Dozaleh), Vicente Hansen Atria (drum set, jing, Kkwaenggari, live electronics, Neo-Carnyx), Ben Rice (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 3: On the margins [52:11]
1. [53:08] Misha Penton: Shore Pines & Spider Silk. From Radiant Poison (Bandcamp, 2022) with Misha Penton (soprano), George Heathco (guitar), Chris Becker (beats)
2. [57:51] Derek Bermel: Intonations (excerpts). From Music for Clarinet and Strings (Naxos, 2022) with JACK Quartet: Christopher Otto, Austin Wulliman (violins), John Pickford Richards (viola), Jay Campbell (cello), Adam Abeshouse (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2016
3. [1:07:06] Mary Finsterer: Falling. From Pendulum (ABC Classic, 2022) with Paul Grabowsky, Gabriella Smart (pianos). NOTE: Composed and recorded 2012⠀
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SET 4: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [1:27:26]
1. [1:25:15] Miles Davis: Chieftain. From The Complete On The Corner Sessions (Columbia, 2007) with Miles Davis (trumpet), Cedric Lawson (organ), Reggie Lucas (guitar), Khalil Balakrishna (sitar), Michael Henderson (electric bass), Al Foster (drums), Badal Roy (tabla), James Mtume Forman (congas). NOTE: Recorded August 23, 1972, New York
2. [1:41:59] Brandon Seabrook Trio: Subliminal Gaucheries. From In The Swarm (Astral Spirits, 2022) with Brandon Seabrook (guitar, banjo), Gerald Cleaver (drums, electronics), Cooper-Moore (diddley bow), Colin Marston (recording engineer)
3. [1:47:09] Vesal Javaheri: Muss. From Visions of Darkness in Iranian contemporary music Volume II (Unexplained Sounds, 2022)
4. [1:52:15] Outro with Karlheinz Stockhausen: Goldstaub
Photo credits: Misha Penton via the artist, Bono by Daniel Hazard, Salman Rushdie by Associated Press, Gamin via the artist, Miles Davis by Palumbo, Mary Finsterer via the artist, Brandon Seabrook Trio (Brandon Seabrook, Gerald Cleaver, Cooper-Moore) by Peter Gannushkin, Abdul Wadud by Russell Lee Fine, Charles Wuorinen By Javier Del Real, Ethan Iverson and Derek Bermel at Octave 9 via Derek Bermel.