Speech melody is the central theme in this edition of Flotation Device. We revisit its two foundational works—Steve Reich's Different Trains (1988) and Scott Johnson's John Somebody (recorded in 1986)—while also exploring new fixed-media music by Ni Zheng, composed music by Vito Palumbo, and improvised music by Barre Phillips and György Kurtág Jr. We also check out modern uses of ancient instruments in the form of Gordon Grdina’s oud and PoiL Ueda’s biwa. Hans Abrahamsen’s masterpiece Schnee has a new recording, which we sample along with the Zappa estate's new release of a previously-unheard version of his indeterminate big band composition Approximate. Our “50 years ago in the avant-garde” feature compares musical specimens by Miles Davis and Morton Feldman that materialized on the same day in January 1973 (no prizes for guessing which was louder). And we honor the 80th birthday of Barry Altschul with a combination of new and classic recordings featuring that eminent free drummer.
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Flotation Device 2023-01-08: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Around the world [0:00]
1. [1:12] PoiL Ueda: Dan No Ura 壇ノ浦の戦い - Part 2. From PoiL Ueda (Dur et Doux, 2023) with Junko Ueda (voice, satsuma-biwa), Ben Lecomte (electroacoustic bass), Antoine Arnera (keyboard), Boris Cassone (guitar), Guilhem Meier (drums, percussion)
2. [5:34] Ni Zheng: Slow Death. From Body of Immanence (Syrphe, 2023) with Ni Zheng (voice, found sounds, acoustic and electronic instruments)
3. [8:44] Hans Abrahamsen: Schnee - Canon 2a: Lustig spielend, aber nicht zu lustig, immer ein bisschen melancholisch. From Schnee (Dacapo, 2022) with Lapland Chamber Orchestra: Heli Haapala (flute, piccolo, alto flute), Jonna Staas (oboe, English horn), Pekka Niskanen (clarinets), Reetta Kataja (violin), Taru Lehto (viola), Lauri Angervo (cello), Anna Laakso, Väinö Jalkanen (pianos), Mikael Heikkilä (percussion), John Storgårds (conductor), Preben Iwan (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2008. For a review of the Northwest premiere of Schnee at Seattle Symphony [untitled] in 2018, see http://www.sequenza21.com/2018/10/schnee/
4. [16:07] Barre Phillips, György Kurtág Jr.: Across the Aisle. From Face à Face (ECM, 2022) with Barre Phillips (double bass), György Kurtág jr. (live electronics), Gérard de Haro, Manfred Eicher (recording engineers)
5. [20:26] Frank Zappa: Approximate (Live - FZ Record Plant Mix). From Waka/Wazoo (Zappa, 2022) with Frank Zappa (guitar and white stick with cork handle), Tony Duran (slide guitar), Mike Altshul (piccolo, bass clarinet, other winds), Jay Migliori (flute, tenor sax, other winds), Earl Dumler (oboe, contrabass sarrusophone, other winds), Ray Reed (clarinet, tenor sax, other winds), Charles Owens (soprano sax, alto sax, other winds), Joann McNab (bassoon), Malcolm McNab (trumpet in D), Sal Marquez (trumpet in B♭), Tom Malone (trumpet in B♭, tuba), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Glenn Ferris (trombone, euphonium), Kenny Shroyer (trombone, baritone horn), Jerry Kessler (electric cello), Dave Parlato (bass), Ian Underwood (electric piano, synthesizer), Tom Raney (vibes, electric percussion), Ruth Underwood (marimba, electric percussion), Jim Gordon (acoustic and electric drums). NOTE: Recorded live September 24, 1972 at Boston Music Hall. Alternative mix and edit of the performance previously released on the 2007 Wazoo album⠀
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SET 2: Steve Reich and speech melody [31:29]
1. [39:15] Steve Reich: Different Trains - 1. America—Before the war (excerpt). From Different Trains/Electric Counterpoint (Nonesuch, 1989) with Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola), Joan Jeanrenaud (cello), Les Brockman (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1988
2. [45:31] Steve Reich: Different Trains - 2. Europe—During the war (excerpt). From American Music (Montaigne/Naïve, 2011) with Quatuor Diotima: Yun-Peng Zhao, Naaman Sluchin (violins), Franck Chevalier (viola), Pierre Morlet (cello)
3. [53:17] Steve Reich: Different Trains - 3. After the war (excerpts). From Different Trains, Triple Quartet, The Four Sections (Montaigne/naïve, 2004) with Orchestre National de Lyon, David Robertson (conductor). NOTE: Orchestra version 2000
4. [58:06] More space Outro with Scott Johnson: John Somebody
5. [1:01:25] Gordon Grdina: Wayward. From Pendulum (Attaboygirl, 2021) with Gordon Grdina (oud), John Raham (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 3: Altschul at 80 [1:10:48]
1. [1:12:47] Barry Altschul: Be Out S'Cool. From Long Tall Sunshine (Not Two, 2021) with 3dom Factor: Barry Altschul (drums, cymbals), Jon Irabagon (tenor and soprillo saxophones, alto clarinet), Joe Fonda (bass)
2. [1:20:47] Dave Holland: Toy Room. From The Song of Singing (Blue Note, 1971) with Chick Corea (piano), Dave Holland (bass), Barry Altschul (drums). NOTE: Recorded 1970⠀
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SET 4: The avant-garde 50 years ago and today [1:26:44]
1. [1:29:16] Miles Davis: The Hen. From The Complete On The Corner Sessions (Columbia, 2007) with Miles Davis (trumpet), Dave Liebman (soprano saxophone), Cedric Lawson (keyboards), Reggie Lucas (guitar), Khalil Balakrishna (sitar), Michael "The Hen" Henderson (electric bass), Al Foster (drums), James Mtume Forman (congos, percussion), Badal Roy (tabla). NOTE: Recorded January 4–5, 1973 at Columbia Studio, New York
2. [1:41:53] Vito Palumbo: Chaconne - 1. Woven Lights (excerpts). From Woven Lights (Bis, 2023) with Francesco D’Orazio (5-string electric violin), Francesco Abbrescia (live electronics, recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2019–20
3. [1:52:52] Outro with Morton Feldman: Chorus and Orchestra 2
Photo credits: PoiL Ueda’s Antoine Arnera and Junko Ueda by Paul Bourdrel, György Kurtág Jr. and Barre Phillips via France Musique, Steve Reich via the artist, Ni Zheng via the artist, Miles Davis and Michael Henderson via Dave Liebman, Frank Zappa via Zappa Records, Gordon Grdina via the artist, Vito Palumbo via the artist, Scott Johnson by Patricia Nolan, Morton Feldman by Rob Bogaerts/Anefo, 3Dom Factor (Jon Irabagon, Barry Altschul, Joe Fonda) via Not Two Records, Barry Altschul with Dave Holland and Chick Corea via Blue Note Records, score detail from Hans Abrahamsen: Schnee.