Flotation Device explores post-Zappa music with recent offerings by John Zorn, Fred Frith, Alex Paxton, Gabriel Zucker, Wolfgang Mitterer and Cheer-Accident that display Frank’s characteristic penchant for spontaneous humor, eclecticism, and sudden, unexpected changes in style. Our “50 years in the avant-garde” feature is also on hand with notable works by Ligeti, Xenakis and Nancarrow that were all unveiled on the same date in May 1976. Plus, Chloe Yu Nong Lin and P.M. Tummala practice cross-culturalism, and Elena Firsova honors Messiaen and her late husband in a new portrait album. Creative and improvised music with host Michael Schell from 91.3 KBCS Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
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Playing tracks by Wolfgang Mitterer, Gabriel Zucker, John Zorn, György Ligeti, Cheer-Accident and more.
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Flotation Device 2026-05-17: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell - PART ONE
Intro and SET 1: Post-Zappa I [0:00]
1. [1:48] Wolfgang Mitterer: Walls Fall Apart - II. From Phantom: Music to the Silent Movie by F.W. Murnau (Col Legno, 2022) with Ensemble PHACE, Lars Mlekusch (conductor)
2. [4:52] Gabriel Zucker: The Most Important Thing. From Confession (Boomslang, 2025) with Taja Cheek (voice), Gabriel Zucker (pianos, synths, electronics, keyboards, voice), Ledah Finck (violin), Matteo Liberatore, Grey Mcmurray (guitars), Eva Lawitts (bass), Connor Parks, Henry Mermer (drums), Bergamot Quartet: Ledah Finck, Sarah Thomas (violins), Amy Huimei Tan (viola), Irene Han (cello), Lily Wen (recording engineer, Figure 8 Studio)
3. [11:37] John Zorn: Spinoza. From Spinoza (Tzadik, 2022) with John Zorn (alto sax), Simulacrum: Matt Hollenberg (guitar), John Medeski (organ), Kenny Grohowski (drums), Marc Urselli (recording engineer)
SET 2: Post-Zappa II and 50 years ago in the avant-garde I [31:37]
1. [35:00] György Ligeti: Three Pieces for Two Pianos - 2. Self-portrait with Reich and Riley (and Chopin in the background). From Drei Stücke Für Zwei Klaviere (Deutsche Grammophon, 1980) with Alfons & Aloys Kontarsky (pianos), Wolfgang Mitlehner (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1976, premiered May 15, 1976 by Alfons & Aloys Kontarsky at WDR Köln, West Germany
2. [41:58] Cheer-Accident: EverythingONE, 30sex, West Side W, Fambiz Marching Band. From Fringements Two (Skin Graft, 2023) with Cheer-Accident, Thymme Jones
3. [47:28] Alex Paxton: Blue Chew Cheerio Earpiece - YOUR MOM Still Laughing, Birthday Balloon Let Go. From Candyfolk Spacedrum (Jonah, 2026) with Mike De Souza (electric guitar), Riot Ensemble: Richard Craig (flutes), Philip Haworth (oboe), Horia Dumitrache (clarinets), Fraser Tannock (trumpet), Alex Paxton (conductor, trombone, recording engineer), Myles Eastwood (recording engineer)
4. [54:24] Alex Paxton: Candyfolk Space Drum - Even Me Mom Dont’ Know. From Candyfolk Spacedrum (as above) with London Sinfonietta: Helen Keen (flutes), Timothy Lines (bass clarinet), Holly Clark (trumpet), Darragh Morgan (violin), Rolf Hind, Siwan Rhys (keyboard), David Ingamells (drum kit), Children’s Chorus of Belham Primary School, Aga Serugo-Lugo (conductor), Alex Paxton (trombone, recording engineer), Myles Eastwood (recording engineer)
5. [56:08] Outro with Fred Frith and the Gravity Band: Year Of The Monkey
6. [1:00:51] Conlon Nancarrow: Study No. 35 for player piano. From Player Piano 5 (MDG-Scene, 2007) with Bösendorfer Grand Piano with 1927 Ampico Player Piano Mechanism, Jürgen Hocker, Jörg Borchardt (restoration). NOTE: Premiered May 15, 1976 (via tape recording) at Pro Musica Nova, Bermen, Germany. Recorded 2005
7. [1:08:12] Voice break with Frank Zappa: Buffalo Voice
Flotation Device 2026-05-17: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell - PART TWO
SET 3: 50 years ago in the avant-garde II
1. [1:10:50] György Ligeti: Three Pieces for Two Pianos - 1. Monument. From Works for Piano, Two Pianos and Four Hands (Dynamic, 2003) with Lucille Chung, Alessio Bax (pianos), Rino Trasi (recording engineer)
2. [1:15:06] Elena Firsova: Quartet for the Time of Grief, Op. 209. From Love and Loss (OUR, 2025) with Rudersdal Chamber Players: Jonas Frølund (clarinet), Christine Pryn (violin), John Ehde (cello), Manuel Esperilla (piano), Mette Due (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2023
3. [1:25:23] Chloe Lin, P.M. Tummala: Echoic. From Levitation Stories (Monastral, 2025) with Chloe Yu Nong Lin (pipa, treatments), P.M. Tummala (harmonium, treatments, recording engineer)
SET 4: 50 years ago in the avant-garde III [1:31:26]
1. [1:34:40] Iannis Xenakis: Khoaï. From The Fantastic Harpsichord (Finlandia, 1987) with Jukka Tiensuu (harpsichord), Robert de Godzinsky (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1976, premiered May 15, 1976 by Elisabeth Chojnacka at WDR Köln, West Germany
2. [1:49:53] György Ligeti: Three Pieces for Two Pianos - 3. In zart fliessender Bewegung. From Ligeti Edition 6: Keyboard Works (Sony, 1997) with Irina Kataeva, Pierre-Laurent Aimard (pianos), Ulrich Schneider (recording engineer)
3. [1:54:17] Outro with György Ligeti: Continuum (Elisabeth Chojnacka)
For more on Ligeti's music see the articles at https://tinyurl.com/LigetiOdyssey and https://tinyurl.com/LigetiLateWorks
Photo credits: Iannis Xenakis via Les Amis de Xenakis, John Zorn by David Garland, Cologne Philharmonie 1988 (Jürgen Hocker, Conlon Nancarrow, György Ligeti) by Gisela Gronemeyer, Alex Paxton by Rui Camilo, Chloe Yu Nong Lin via the artist, Fred Frith by Heike Liss, Frank Zappa with Synclavier, Cheer-Accident via the artists, Dmitri Smirnov and Elena Firsova via the artists, Simulacrum (Kenny Grohowski, Matt Hollenberg, John Medeski) via Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Wolfgang Mitterer by Florian Voggeneder, Gabriel Zucker via the artist.