Flotation Device presents an exclusive interview with Melvin Gibbs, bassist for power trio Harriet Tubman. Topics include his early influences, why he chose the electric bass as his primary musical vehicle, the genesis and philosophy of Harriet Tubman, and the unexpected connections between traditional African instruments and noise music.
We also salute master improvisors Craig Taborn and Tim Berne, and we honor the late Carla Bley, finding traces of her innovative big band music in a new album by Steve Lehman and the French Orchestre National de Jazz that also exhibits the influence of Sun Ra, who's heard in an October 1973 performance in France that's contemporaneous with the premiere of Iannis Xenakis's relentless solo piano piece Ervyali (both supplied through our "50 years ago in the avant-garde" feature). A modernist take on the humble recorder, expressed through a new concerto by Kalevi Aho, rounds out the playlist.
Annotated playlist and photo credits with Comments.
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See the video version of our interview with Melvin Gibbs at https://tinyurl.com/MelvinGibbsInterview
Flotation Device 2023-10-22: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Carla Bley (1936–2023) [0:00]
1. [1:24] Carla Bley: Song to Anything That Moves. From Escalator over the Hill (JCOA, 1972, reissued 1998 by ECM) with Carla Bley (voice, organ), Jazz Composer's Orchestra: Michael Mantler (ring modulated piano), Jimmy Lyons (alto saxophone), Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone), Chris Woods (baritone saxophone), Bob Carlisle (French horn), Enrico Rava (trumpets), Roswell Rudd (trombone), Jack Jeffers (bass trombone), John Buckingham (tuba), Roger Dawson (bells), Paul Motion (drums), Michael Mantler (conductor), Karl Sjodahl (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded June 1971, editing completed November 2, 1971
2. [4:03] Carla Bley: Oh Say Can You Do? From Escalator over the Hill (as above) with Calliope Bill: Bill Leonard (voice), Carla Bley (calliope organ). NOTE: Recorded August 1971, editing completed November 2, 1971
3. [5:10] Steve Lehman: Los Angeles Imaginary. From Ex Machina (Pi, 2023) with Steve Lehman (alto saxophone, electronics), Orchestre National de Jazz, Frédéric Maurin (conductor), Philipp Heck (recording engineer)
4. [10:50] Harriet Tubman: Five Points. From The Terror End of Beauty (Sunnyside, 2018) with Brandon Ross (guitar), Melvin Gibbs (bass), JT Lewis (drums)
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SET 2: Harriet Tubman in Seattle [13:52]
1. [16:54] Melvin Gibbs in conversation with Michael Schell
2. [32:31] Harriet Tubman, Wadada Leo Smith: The Spiral Path To The Throne. From Araminta (Sunnyside, 2017) with Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet), Harriet Tubman: Brandon Ross (guitar), Melvin Gibbs (bass), JT Lewis (drums)
3. [38:34] Melvin Gibbs: Future Blues. From Anamibia Sessions 1: The Wave (Editions Mego, 2022) with Melvin Gibbs (Symbolic Systems Kyma)
4. [43:21] Iannis Xenakis: Ervyali. From Chamber Music 1955–1990 (Montaigne, 1992, reissued 2009 by Naïve) with Claude Helffer (piano). NOTE: Composed 1973. Premiered October 23rd, 1973 by Marie-Françoise Bucquet at Alice Tully Hall, New York
5. [53:23] Outro with Sun Ra: Love in Outer Space (recorded live October 21, 1973 at Maison de la Culture, Amiens, France)
6. [56:57] Craig Taborn: The Science of Why Devils Smell Like Sulfur. From Compass Confusion (Pyroclastic, 2020) with Junk Magic: Chris Speed (saxophone), Mat Maneri (viola), Craig Taborn (piano, keyboards, synthesizer), Erik Fratzke (bass), David King (drums), Christopher Botta, Brett Bullion (recording engineers)
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SET 3: Craig Taborn in Seattle [1:07:34]
1. [1:09:24] Craig Taborn: Shadow Play. From Shadow Plays (ECM, 2021) with Craig Taborn (piano), Stefano Amerio (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded live March 2, 2020 at Mozart-Saal, Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna
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SET 4: Tim Berne in Seattle [1:27:46]
1. [1:29:46] Tim Berne, Hank Roberts, Aurora Nealand: Framed. From Oceans And (Intakt, 2023) with Tim Berne (alto saxophone), Aurora Nealand (accordion), Hank Roberts (cello), Joe Branciforte (recording engineer)
2. [1:33:32] Tim Berne, Hank Roberts, Aurora Nealand: Eez. From Oceans And (Intakt, 2023)
3. [1:35:43] Kalevi Aho: Concerto for Recorder and Chamber Orchestra. From Concertante Works (BIS, 2023) with Eero Saunamäki (recorder), Saimaa Sinfonietta, Erkki Lasonpalo (conductor), Christian Starke (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2020
4. [1:56:02] Outro with Kalevi Aho: Sonata concertante for Accordion and Strings
Photo credits: Kalevi Aho by Kuva Rajattu, Iannis Xenakis via Les Amis de Xenakis, Oceans And (Tim Berne, Hank Roberts, Aurora Nealand) via the artists, Carla Bley by Caterina di Perri, Steve Lehman via the artist, Harriet Tubman (Brandon Ross, JT Lewis, Melvin Gibbs) via M M Music Agency, Craig Taborn via the artist, Sun Ra in Space Is the Place.