Flotation Device bids farewell to Per Nørgård, the dean of Norwegian composers, and celebrates the centenaries of avant-gardists Aldo Clementi, Ivo Malec, Lucia Dlugoszewski and Gunther Schuller. A piano-centric segment features new solo releases by Matthew Shipp (on Cantaloupe Music), Timo Andres (updating the classical chaconne form) and Keith Jarrett (captured in an uncharacteristically somber mood during his final European tour), while Steve Lehman offers an epilogue to our recent Anthony Braxton at 80 podcast with a new quartet recording dedicated to his music. The disparate sound worlds of Alex Paxton, Ingrid Laubrock, Yikii and a perpetually young Marshall Allen, all captured in new portrait albums, round things out. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, originally broadcast June 15, 2025 on 91.3 KBCS-FM Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
Global chart history
Top position held by this upload
Comments
Flotation Device 2025-06-15: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Ear candy [0:00]
1. [1:43] Alex Paxton: Touching Sweetly (from Scrunchy Touch Sweetly to Fall (kite and finger run)). From Delicious (New Amsterdam, 2025) with Dreammusics Ensemble, Alex Paxton (recording engineer)
2. [6:54] Marshall Allen's Ghost Horizons: Seductive Fantasy. From Live in Philadelphia (Ars Nova Workshop, 2025) with Marshall Allen (alto saxophone, Casio VL-Tone, Crumar/Steiner Electronic Valve Instrument), Dave Davis (trombone), DM Hotep (electric guitar), Luke Stewart (double bass), Chad Taylor (drums, percussion), Beau Gordon (recording engineer). NOTE: Composition by Sun Ra
3. [11:14] Keith Jarrett: New Vienna, Part II. From New Vienna (ECM, 2025) with Keith Jarrett (piano), Martin Pearson (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded live July 9, 2016 at Goldener Saal, Musikverein, Vienna
⠀
SET 2: Bagatelles and chaconnes [17:21]
1. [21:11] Ingrid Laubrock: Koan 51. From Purposing the Air (Pyroclastic, 2025) with Theo Bleckmann (voice), Ben Monder (guitar), Ryan Streber (recording engineer, Oktaven Audio)
2. [22:59] Timo Andres: Colorful History. From The Blind Banister (Nonesuch, 2024) with Timo Andres (piano)
⠀
SET 3: Gunther Schuller at 100 [32:27]
1. [33:33] Matthew Shipp: Face to Face. From The Cosmic Piano (Cantaloupe, 2025) with Matthew Shipp (piano), Marc Urselli (recording engineer, EastSide Sound)
2. [36:46] Matthew Shipp: Subconscious Piano. From The Cosmic Piano (credits as above)
3. [38:50] Gunther Schuller: Abstraction. From Jazz Abstractions (Atlantic, 1961) with Ornette Coleman (alto saxophone), Jim Hall (guitar), Charles Libove, Roland Vamos (violin), Harry Zaratzian (viola), Joseph Tekula (cello), Alvin Brehm, Scott LaFaro (bass), Sticks Evans (drums), Gunther Schuller (conductor). NOTE: Composed 1959, recorded December 1960
4. [43:00] Gunther Schuller: Symphony for Brass and Percussion, Op. 16 - 3. Lento desolato. From American Tribute (Summit, 1991) with Summit Brass, Gunther Schuller (conductor), Bradley Michel (recording engineer, Soundmirror). NOTE: Composed 1950
5. [46:33] Gunther Schuller: Symphony for Brass and Percussion, Op. 16 - 4. Introduction, Allegro. From American Tribute (credits as above)
6. [51:56] Outro with Gunther Schuller: Variants on a Theme of Thelonious Monk (with Eric Dolphy, Scott LaFaro Bill Evans)
7. [56:47] Anthony Braxton: Composition No. 34a. From The Music of Anthony Braxton (Pi, 2025) with Steve Lehman (alto saxophone), Mark Turner (tenor saxophone), Matt Brewer (bass), Damion Reid (drums), Bryce Gonzales (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1975
⠀
SET 4: Dlugoszewski and Clementi at 100 [1:05:03]
1. [1:08:27] Lucia Dlugoszewski: Openings of the (Eye) [excerpt]. From Openings of the Eye, Lords of Persia (DUX, 2020) with #Ensemble: Ania Karpowicz (flute), Piotr Sałajczyk (timbre piano), Hubert Zemler (percussion), Michał Bereza (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1951–52 for Erick Hawkins
2. [1:12:31] Yikii: Spore. From A Fish Under the Pillow (Bandcamp, 2025) with Yikii Tong AKA Yikii
3. [1:15:09] Ivo Malec: Arco-11 [excerpts]. From Ottava Bassa, Arco-11 (Erato, 1990) with Belgrade Festival Strings, Ivo Malec (conductor). NOTE: Composed 1975, premiered June 12, 1975 in Paris
4. [1:30:41] Aldo Clementi: Collage II. From Collage (Alga Marghen, 2023). NOTE: Realized 1960 at Studio di Fonologia Musicale, Milan
⠀
SET 5: Per Nørgård (1932–2025) [1:35:35]
1. [1:38:48] Per Nørgård: Spell (Trio No. 2 for clarinet, cello and piano). From Whirl's World (Dacapo, 2019) with Ensemble MidtVest: Tommaso Lonquich (clarinet), Jonathan Slaatto (cello), Martin Qvist Hansen (piano), Morten Mogensen (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1973
2. [1:54:47] Outro with Per Nørgård: Symphony No. 7
Photo credits: Gunther Schuller by William E. Sauro, Per Nørgård by Lars Skaaning, Matthew Shipp by Peter Gannushkin, Yikii via the artist, Keith Jarrett by Henry Leutwyler, Alex Paxton by Hannah Driscoll, Theo Bleckmann and Ben Monder via Pyroclastic Records, Aldo Clementi by Mario Clementi, Steve Lehman Trio (SL, Damion Reid, Matt Brewer) plus Mark Turner by Ian Johnson, Marshall Allen by Marek Lazarski, Lucia Dlugoszewski with custom instruments, Timo Andres by Jason Marck