John Seman returns to Flotation Device after a five-year hiatus, and we’re delighted to have him back in the booth to conclude our memorial tribute to James Blood Ulmer and tell us about Sir Richard Bishop’s upcoming Seattle appearance with Climax Golden Twins and Vision Festival’s Joe Morris celebration in New York. John also samples new and recent albums by Tomeka Reid, Luke Stewart, Paul R. Harding and the Chad Taylor Quintet. And cameos by Shellac, David S. Ware, Lonnie Holley and Igor Stravinsky (for his birthday) round out the playlist. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world.
Tracklist
Playing tracks by James Blood Ulmer, Luke Stewart's Silt Trio, Matthew Shipp & Joe Morris, Tomeka Reidx, Sir Richard Bishop and more.
Comments
Flotation Device 2026-06-21: Annotated playlist by host John Seman - PART ONE
Intro and SET 1: James Blood Ulmer RIP and Vision Fest 30 [0:00]
1. [1:57] James Blood Ulmer: Are You Glad To Be In America? From Are You Glad To Be In America? (Rough Trade, 1980) with James Blood Ulmer (guitar), Amin Ali (bass), G. Calvin Weston (drums). NOTE: Recorded 17 Jan 1980, RCA Studios, NYC. James Blood Ulmer born February 8, 1940, St. Matthews, South Carolina, died June 3, 2026 NYC
2. [6:33] Luke Stewart’s Silt Trio: The Bottom. From The Bottom (Cuneiform, 2022) with Luke Stewart (bass), Brian Settles (tenor sax), Chad Taylor (drums). NOTE: performing at Vision Fest 30 June 23-28, 2026
3. [11:57] Matthew Shipp & Joe Morris: Four. From Broken Partials (Catalytic Sound reissue, 2025) with Matthew Shipp (piano) and Joe Morris (bass). NOTE: performing at Vision Fest 30 June 23-28, 2026
4. [19:32] Tomeka Reid: Silver Spring Fig Tree. From: dance! skip! hop! (Out of Your Head Records, 2026) with Tomeka Reid (cello), Jason Roebke (bass, cassette), Mary Halvorson (guitar), Tomas Fujiwara (drums). NOTE: performing at Vision Fest 30 June 23-28, 2026
Flotation Device 2026-06-21: Annotated playlist by host John Seman - PART TWO
SET 2: Sir Richard Bishop & CGT [29:36]
1. [31:52] Sir Richard Bishop: Mirage. From Tangier Sessions (Drag City, 2015) with Rick Bishop (guitar). NOTE: performing at Black Lodge June 26, 2026
2. [37:52] Climax Golden Twins: And Now (excerpt). From climax golden twins (bandcamp, 2022). NOTE: performing at Black Lodge June 26, 2026
3. [39:25] Climax Golden Twins: lemme sleep lemme dream. From conspiracy (Conspiracy, 2006). NOTE: performing at Black Lodge June 26, 2026
4. [43:14] Shellac: End Of Radio. From Excellent Italian Greyhound (Touch & Go, 2007) with Steve Albini (guitar, vocals), Bob Weston (bass, vocals), Todd Trainer (drums)
5. [51:37] James Blood Ulmer: Election. From Odyssey (Columbia, 1983) with James Blood Ulmer (guitar, vocals), Warren Benbow (drums), Charles Burnham (violin)
6. [56:39] Outro with Sir Richard Bishop: Space Prophet Dogon. From No-Fi Archive Series 45rpm recorded at Morden Tower, Newcastle 23/07/05
7. [1:00:04] Igor Stravinsky: Piano Rag Music (1919). From Igor Stravinsky Edition (Warner Classics, 2021) with Igor Stravinsky (piano). NOTE: Igor Stravinsky born June 17, 1882.
8. [1:03:13] Igor Stravinsky: Berceuse From L'Oiseau De Feu. From Igor Stravinsky Edition (Warner Classics, 2021) with Igor Stravinsky (piano) and Samuel Dushkin (violin, arrangement). NOTE: recorded 1932/33
9. [1:06:22] Igor Stravinsky: Danse Russe From Petrouchka. From Igor Stravinsky Edition (Warner Classics, 2021) with Igor Stravinsky (piano) and Samuel Dushkin (violin, arrangement)
Flotation Device 2026-06-21: Annotated playlist by host John Seman - PART THREE
SET 3: Vision Fest [1:09:08]
1. [1:10:57] David S. Ware Quartet: Lockup ’97. From Vision Volume One: Vision Festival 1997 Compiled (AUM Fidelity, 1998) with David S. Ware (tenor saxophone), Matthew Shipp (piano), William Parker (bass), Susie Ibarra (drums)
2. [1:19:17] Paul r. Harding: Let’s Get Use To. From: They Tried to Kill Me Yesterday (bandcamp, 2023) with Paul r. Harding (poetry, small percussion), Michael Bisio (bass), Juma Sultan (percussion). NOTE: Harding performing solo at Vision Fest 30 June 23-28, 2026
3. [1:25:21] Chad Taylor Quintet: Paradise Lawns-October 29th. From: Smoke Shifter (Otherly Love, 2025) with Chad Taylor (drums), Jonathan Finlayson (trumpet), Bryan Rogers (tenor saxophone), Victor Vieira-Branco (vibraphone), Matt Engle (Bass)
Flotation Device 2026-06-21: Annotated playlist by host John Seman - PART FOUR
SET 4: Blood and Juneteenth [1:35:12]
1. [1:38:08] Music Revelation Ensemble: Street Bride. From Music Revelation Ensemble (DIW, 1988) with James Blood Ulmer (guitar), David Murray (tenor saxophone), Jamaaladeen Tacuma (bass), Ronald Shannon Jackson (drums)
2. [1:46:52] Lonnie Holley: I Snuck Off The Slave Ship. From MITH (Jagjaguwar, 2018) with Lonnie Holley Dave Nelson, Marlon Patton
Photo credits: Igor Stravinsky by Richard Avedon, James Blood Ulmer via MM Music Agency, Matthew Shipp and Joe Morris via M.etropolis, Tomeka Reid Quartet (Mary Halvorson, Tomeka Reid, Tomas Fujiwara, Jason Roebke) by Laurence Miner, Climax Golden Twins (Robert Millis, Jeffery Taylor) via the artists, Sir Richard Bishop by Karl L.
Flotation Device features creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with hosts John Semen and Michael Schell, Sunday nights 10pm–Midnight Pacific Time on 91.3 KBCS-FM Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.