Our "50 years ago in the avant-garde" feature returns with gems by Anthony Braxton (featuring his atonal Bird impression), Steve Lacy (performing with Derek Bailey and Mal Waldron) and Karlheinz Stockhausen (with an obscure New Agey “choral opera” that anticipates his Licht cycle). We conclude our Sofia Gubaidulina tribute with her final composition—a decidedly non-New Age religious work for large orchestra—contrasted with a more cheerful piece heard in a Seattle Symphony cameo. Richard Barrett channels David Lynch, Fred Frith and Norman Teale remix Cosa Brava, and Tania León's polystylistic string trio gets its first recording. Pancrace improvises on pipe organ and folk instruments, the Uitti/Zarić/Harnik trio improvises on cello, harp and piano, and a preview of Devin Gray’s upcoming appearance at Seattle Jazz Fellowship rounds out the proceedings. Creative and improvised music with host Michael Schell from 91.3 KBCS Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
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Flotation Device 2025-05-18: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [0:00]
1. [1:59] Steve Lacy: The Uh Uh Uh. From Dreams (Saravah, 1975, reissued 1997 in Scratching the Seventies/Dreams) with Steve Lacy (soprano saxophone), Steve Potts (alto/soprano saxophones), Irène Aebi (voice, cello), Derek Bailey (guitar), Kent Carter, Jean-Jacques Avenel (bass), Kenneth Tyler (drums), Christian Gence (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded May 1975 at Studio Saravah, Paris
2. [7:16] Tania León: A tres voces. From A Tres Voces (Prospero Classical, 2024) with TriOlogie String Trio: Nevena Tochev (violin), Meredith Kuliew (viola), Elodie Théry (cello), Andreas Werner (recording engineer)
3. [19:57] Anthony Braxton: Composition No. 23B. From Composition, Improvisation, Synthesis: Selections from The Tri-Centric Foundation Archives Volume 1 (New Braxton House, 2011) with Anthony Braxton (reeds), Kenny Wheeler (trumpet), Dave Holland (bass), Barry Altschul (drums). NOTE: Recorded live May 14, 1975 at Sendesaal Radio, Bremen, West Germany
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SET 2: Coming soon to Seattle [28:18]
1. [32:23] Cosa Brava: Oklanial. From Z Sides (Klanggalerie, 2024) with Fred Frith (guitar, bass guitar, voice), Carla Kihlstedt (violin, voice), Zeena Parkins (keyboards, voice), Shahzad Ismaily (bass guitar), Matthias Bossi (drums, voice), Norman Teale AKA The Norman Conquest (creative live sound)
2. [35:43] Richard Barrett: First Light, stereo version (excerpt). From First Light (Strange Strings, 2025)
3. [39:27] Frances-Marie Uitti, Milana Zarić, Elisabeth Harnik: Arcane Melodies. From Unified Field (Strange Strings, 2025) with Frances-Marie Uitti (cello), Milana Zarić (harp), Elisabeth Harnik (piano), Zoran Marić (recording engineer, Radio Belgrade), Richard Barrett (mixing, editing)
4. [45:21] Pancrace: Salicional, Tunnel. From Papotier (Penultimate Press, 2025) with Pancrace: Prune Bécheau, Arden Day, Julien Desailly, Léo Maurel, Jan Vysocky (spatialized and MIDI controlled Organous, 1778 Sibermann organ, voices, Baroque violin, bird calls, rattles, ventilators, inhaler, whisties, uilleann pipes, etc.)
5. [52:01] Devin Gray: 77 Posaunen. From Melt All the Guns II (Rataplan, 2024) with Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Myslaure Augustin (piano), Devin Gray (drums)
6. [55:04] Outro with Devin Gray: More Meritocracy
7. [58:47] Reggie Workman: Variation of III. From The Mighty Warriors (Elemental Music, 2024) with Steve Lacy (soprano sax), Mal Waldron (piano), Reggie Workman (bass), Andrew Cyrille (drums). NOTE: Recorded live September 30, 1995 at DeSingel Arts Center, Antwerp, Belgium
8. [1:05:31] Steve Lacy: Dreams. From Dreams (credits as above)
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SET 3: New Age devotion [1:08:37]
1. [1:11:58] Karlheinz Stockhausen: Atmen gibt das Leben… (excerpts). From Atmen gibt das Leben… (Deutsche Grammophon, 1984, reissued 1993 by Stockhausen-Verlag as Stockhausen Edition 23: Atmen gibt das Leben…) with Chor des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg (AKA NDR Chor), Sinfonie-Orchester des Norddeutschen Rundfunks Hamburg (AKA NDR Radiophilharmonie), Karlheinz Stockhausen (direction), Hermann Rantz (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1974/77. Part I premiered May 16, 1975 in Hamburg, Part II premiered May 9, 1977 in Zagreb, Part III premiered May 22, 1977 in Nice
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SET 4: Not so New Age devotion [1:35:44]
1. [1:39:49] Sofia Gubaidulina: The Wrath of God. From Dialog: Ich und Du, The Wrath of God, The Light of the End (Deutsche Grammophon, 2021) with Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Andris Nelsons (conductor), Sebastian Nattkemper (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2019
2. [1:56:43] Outro with Sofia Gubaidulina: Märchenpoem (Seattle Symphony, Alexander Shelley) NOTE: "This is an archival recording of which was performed at a live concert by the Seattle Symphony on October 19, 2023, at Benaroya Hall. This is not intended to represent a definitive artistic statement. Property of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. This material is subject to copyright law. Any unauthorized use is a federal offense."
Photo credits: Devin Gray via the artist, Karlheinz Stockhausen: Atmen gibt das Leben, Sofia Gubaidulina via Vyacheslav Artyomov, Leonard Bernstein and Tania León via the artists, Elisabeth Harnik by Bernhard Guenther, Anthony Braxton via Arista Records, Milana Zarić by Nebojša Babić, Cosa Brava (Zeena Parkins, Norman Teale, Fred Frith, Carla Kihlstedt, Matthias Bossi) by Heike Liss, Mal Waldron and Steve Lacy by Hugo Peeters, Pancrace (Arden Day, Prune Bécheau, Léo Maurel, Julien Desailly, Jan Vysocky) via the artists