Flotation Device celebrates Roscoe Mitchell for his 85th birthday with a two-hour retrospective of this storied saxophonist, bandleader, composer—and co-founder and last surviving original member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. We trace the Ensemble from its origins in Mitchell's debut album Sound (which in 1966 gave the outside world with its first inkling of what the AACM in Chicago was up to), through its formative years in France, its return to the US, and ultimately its unique legacy whose impact was felt across the full range of contemporary Western art music, from composed music to jazz and the international free improv scene of the post-jazz era. We’ll also examine Mitchell’s later work outside the Art Ensemble, featuring musicians as diverse as Anthony Braxton, Wadada Leo Smith, Craig Taborn, Tyshawn Sorey, Thomas Buckner, Pauline Oliveros, John Tilbury, Francesco Filidei and Weasel Walter, and culminating in his newest album, Gratitude, from 2025. With host Michael Schell.
Global chart history
Top position held by this upload
Comments
Flotation Device 2025-08-03: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Americans swinging in Paris [0:00]
1. [1:17] Art Ensemble of Chicago: Yoyo's Theme. From Les stances à Sophie (Pathé-Marconi, 1970 reissued 2002 by EMI France in Americans Swinging in Paris). With Fontella Bass (vocals) and Art Ensemble of Chicago: Lester Bowie (trumpet), Joseph Jarman, Roscoe Mitchell (woodwinds), Malachi Favors (bass), Don Moye (drums). NOTE: Recorded July 22, 1970, Paris
2. [10:18] Art Ensemble of Chicago: Song for Charles. From A Jackson in Your House (BYG Actuel, 1969) with Roscoe Mitchell (saxophones, clarinets, flute, percussion instruments), Joseph Jarman (saxophones, clarinets, percussion instruments), Lester Bowie (trumpet, percussion instruments), Malachi Favors (bass, percussion instruments, vocals). NOTE: Recorded June 23, 1969 at Studio Saravah, Paris
⠀
SET 2: Ancient to the Future [27:55]
1. [32:22] Roscoe Mitchell: The Little Suite. From Sound (Delmark, 1966) with Roscoe Mitchell (alto sax, clarinet, recorder), Maurice McIntyre (tenor sax), Lester Bowie (trumpet, flugelhorn, harmonica), Lester Lashley (trombone, cello), Malachi Favors (bass), Alvin Fielder (drums), Stu Black (recording engineer)
2. [42:49] Anthony Braxton: Composition 40Q. From Roscoe Mitchell: Duets with Anthony Braxton (Sackville, 1978) with Roscoe Mitchell (bass saxophone, R channel), Anthony Braxton (bass saxophone, L channel), Phil Sheridan (recording engineer)
3. [49:34] Art Ensemble of Chicago with Muhal Richard Abrams: Nonaah. From Fanfare For The Warriors (Atlantic, 1973) with Muhal Richard Abrams (piano), Lester Bowie (trumpet, percussion), Malachi Favors Maghostut (bass, percussion), Joseph Jarman (saxophones, clarinets, percussion), Roscoe Mitchell (saxophones, clarinets, flute, percussion), Don Moye (drums, percussion). NOTE: Composed by Roscoe Mitchell
4. [55:15] Art Ensemble of Chicago with Muhal Richard Abrams: The Key. From Fanfare for the Warriors (credits as above)
5. [56:31] Outro with Mitchell: Nonaah (solo)
6. [59:46] Art Ensemble of Chicago: Prayer For Jimbo Kwesi. From The Third Decade (ECM, 1984) with Lester Bowie (trumpet, flugelhorn, etc.), Joseph Jarman (saxophones, flutes, synthesizer, percussion), Roscoe Mitchell (saxophones, flutes, percussion), Malachi Favors Maghostut (bass, etc.), Famoudou Don Moye (drums, percussion), Martin Wieland (recording engineer)
⠀
SET 3: Beyond the Art Ensemble
1. [1:09:34] Voice break with Art Ensemble of Chicago: Rock Out
2. [1:12:09] Roscoe Mitchell Quartet: Shiver. From Gratitude: One Head Four People (Wide Hive, 2025) with Roscoe Mitchell (bass saxophone, percussion), Sandy Ewen (guitar), Damon Smith (double bass), Weasel Walter (drums, percussion), Buzz Kemper (recording engineer, Audio for the Hearts)
3. [1:14:58] Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Pauline Oliveros, John Tilbury: Nessuno - Part III. From Nessuno (I Dischi di Angelica, 2016) with Roscoe Mitchell (soprano saxophone), Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet), Pauline Oliveros (V-accordion), John Tilbury (piano), Roberto Monari (recording engineer). Note recorded live May 8, 2011 at AngelicA Festival Internazionale di Musica, Bologna
4. [1:19:09] Roscoe Mitchell: Distant Radio Transmission (excerpt). From Splatter (I dischi di angelica, 2020) with Roscoe Mitchell (soprano saxophone), Thomas Buckner (baritone), Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Tonino Battista (conductor). NOTE: Music originally improvised by Roscoe Mitchell, Craig Taborn, Kikanju Baku. Transcription (2017) by Stephen P. Harvey. Transcription and orchestration of air sounds for strings (2017) by John Ivers. Orchestration (2017) by Roscoe Mitchell. Recorded live May 31, 2017 at AngelicA Festival Internazionale di Musica, Bologna
5. [1:22:58] Roscoe Mitchell, Francesco Filidei: Breath and Pipes (excerpt). From Splatter (i dischi di angelica, 2020) with Roscoe Mitchell (alto, soprano, sopranino saxophone), Francesco Filidei (organ). NOTE: Recorded live May 30, 2017 at AngelicA Festival Internazionale di Musica, Bologna
⠀
SET 4: Future to the ancient [1:27:35]
1. [1:30:48] Roscoe Mitchell: Panoply. From Bells for the South Side (ECM, 2015) with Roscoe Mitchell (sopranino sax, soprano sax, alto sax, bass sax, flute, piccolo, bass recorder, percussion), James Fei (sopranino sax, alto sax, contra-alto clarinet, electronics), Hugh Ragin (trumpet, piccolo trumpet), Tyshawn Sorey (trombone, piano, drums, percussion), Craig Taborn (piano, organ, electronics), Jaribu Shahid (double bass, bass guitar, percussion), William Winant (percussion, tubular bells, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba, roto toms, cymbals, bass drum, woodblocks, timpani), Kikanju Baku (drums, percussion), Tani Tabbal (drums, percussion), David Zuchowski (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded live September 2015 at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
2. [1:34:49] Art Ensemble of Chicago: People in Sorrow - Part 2. From People in Sorrow (Pathé-Marconi/Nessa, 1969) with Lester Bowie (trumpet, percussion), Joseph Jarman (saxophones, clarinets, percussion instruments), Roscoe Mitchell (saxophones, clarinets, flute, percussion instruments), Malachi Favors (bass, percussion instruments, vocals)
3. [1:55:52] Outro with Art Ensemble of Chicago: Odwalla
Photo credits: Roscoe Mitchell by Elvira Faltermeier, Wadada Leo Smith and Roscoe Mitchell via East of Borneo, Art Ensemble of Chicago (Famoudou Don Moye, Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, Joseph Jarman, Malachi Favors) by Enid Farber, Roscoe Mitchell and Thomas Buckner by Clara Pereira, People in Sorrow by Roscoe Mitchell via Paul Steinbeck, Pauline Oliveros and Roscoe Mitchell in Bologna 2011, Roscoe Mitchell with his paintings by Terrence Antonio James, Anthony Braxton and Roscoe Mitchell by Bill Smith, Muhal Richard Abrams by Brian McMillen