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Flotation Device celebrates saxophonist Dave Liebman’s 80th birthday with a look at his career that spans Miles Davis and Tyshawn Sorey. We’ll remain with Sorey as he reflects on Morton Feldman’s masterpiece Rothko Chapel for *its* 50th birthday. The unorthodox Downtown guitarist Brandon Seabrook is on hand with two new albums featuring two different quartets, while Victoria Bond, Gary Lucas and Lukas Ligeti offer their own new releases. Davor Vincze and Joseph Franklin make their Flotation Device debuts, while Jin Hi Kim jams with Henry Kaiser, and Anne-Sophie Mutter explores the musical applications of ringtones with Sebastian Currier. Creative and improvised music with host Michael Schell, from 91.3 KBCS Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
Tracklist
Playing tracks by Joseph Franklin, Jin Hi Kim, Henry Kaiser, Davor Vincze, Victoria Bond, Sebastian Currier and more.
Comments
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Flotation Device 2026-09-06: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: The horror [0:00]
1. [1:52] Joseph Franklin: The Horror of the Avant-Garde(s) [excerpts]. From The Horror of the Avant-Garde(s) (New Focus, 2026) with Marc Hannaford (piano soloist), Satoshi Takeishi (percussion soloist), Laila Engle (flutes), Luke Carbon (clarinets), Jasper Ly (oboe, cor anglais), Callum G'Froerer (double-bell trumpet), Benjamin Anderson (double-bell bass trombone), Louise Devenish (percussion), Melina van Leeuwen (harp), Sophia Kirsanova (violin), Phoebe Green (viola), Anna Pokorny (cello), Joseph Franklin (contrabass guitar, harmonium), Elliott Gyger (conductor), Alistair McLean (recording engineer)
2. [11:45] Jin Hi Kim, Henry Kaiser: Frog Inside Well. From Sargeng (Ear-Rational, 1990, reissued 2026 by Neuma in The Jin Hi Kim Collection) with Jin Hi Kim (komungo), Henry Kaiser (guitar)
3. [14:14] Davor Vincze: Na Crti Crta (excerpt). From Ashes (Kairos, 2026) with HIIIT: Niels Meliefste (marimba), Pepe Garcia (percussion), Tom Gelissen (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2017 for marimba, percussion and tape. Premiere recording
4. [20:36] Victoria Bond: Binary - 1. From Dancing On Glass (Albany, 2025) with Madeline Rogers, Florencia Zuloaga (piano four hands), Tom Larson (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2005, revised 2008. First recording of the two-player version
5. [24:29] Victoria Bond: Black Light - 3. Presto. From Dancing On Glass (as above) with Madeline Rogers, Florencia Zuloaga (pianos), Tom Larson (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1988, revised 1997. First recording of the two-player version
SET 2: Dave Liebman at 80 [28:20]
1. [32:37] Sebastian Currier: Ringtone Variations for Violin and Double Bass - Part I. From American Tunes #1 (Alpha, 2026) with Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Roman Patkoló (double bass), Michael Krogmann (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2010. First recordingBass (2010) - Part I
2. [36:13] Brandon Seabrook: The Serial Fabulist. From Utility Modern (Out Of Your Head, 2026) with Brandon Seabrook (electric and acoustic guitars, banjo), Bill Frisell (electric and acoustic guitars), Rashaan Carter (bass), Marcus Gilmore (drums), Owen Mulholland (recording engineer, The Bunker Studio)
3. [40:21] Brandon Seabrook: Existential Banger Infinite Ceiling. From Hellbent Daydream (Pyroclastic, 2026) with Erica Dicker (violin), Brandon Seabrook (guitar), Elias Stemeseder (piano), Henry Fraser (bass), Aaron Nevezie (recording engineer, The Bunker Studio)
4. [47:19] Dave Liebman: Compassion. From Selflessness: The Music of John Coltrane (Dot Time, 2021) with Dave Liebman (soprano sax), Matt Vashlishan (wind synth), Bobby Avey (keyboard synth), Tony Marino (acoustic bass), Alex Ritz (drums). NOTE: Composition by John Coltrane
5. [52:55] Outro with John Coltrane: Compassion (from First Meditations for quartet)
6. [59:55] Miles Davis: On The Corner (medley excerpts). From On the Corner (Columbia, 1972) with Miles Davis (trumpet with wah), Dave Liebman (soprano saxophone), Paul Buckmaster (electric cello with wah), Chick Corea (Arp Axxe synthesizer L channel), Herbie Hancock (organ R channel), John McLaughlin (electric guitar), Collin Walcott (sitar), Michael Henderson (electric bass), Badal Roy (tabla L channel), Don Alias (congas R channel), Jack DeJohnette, Billy Hart (drums)
SET 3: Drum hero [1:08:46]
1. [1:10:41] Lucas & Lukas: Whorls Within Whirls. From Omnidirectional (Cuneiform, 2026) with Gary Lucas (guitars, FX), Lukas Ligeti (drums, percussion), Marc Urselli (recording engineer, EastSide Sound)
2. [1:26:45] Dave Liebman on his time with Miles Davis (from The Miles Davis Story, BBC Channel 4, 2001)
SET 4: Through to Feldman [1:28:12]
1. [1:30:34] Dave Liebman, Adam Rudolph, Tyshawn Sorey: Part 6. From New Now (Meta, 2022) with Dave Liebman (wooden flute, soprano sax), Tyshawn Sorey (drum set), Adam Rudolph (handrumset, percussion, live electronic processing), Kengchakaj Kengkarnka, Zacchae'us Paul (recording engineers). NOTE: Recorded live September 30, 2021 at The Jazz Gallery, New York
2. [1:40:48] Tyshawn Sorey: Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) [excerpts]. From Monochromatic Light (Afterlife) (Dacamera Editions) with Kim Kashkashian (viola), Sarah Rothenberg (piano, celesta), Steven Schick (percussion), Davóne Tines (baritone), Houston Chamber Choir, Tyshawn Sorey (conductor), Judith Sherman (recording engineer)
3. [1:59:28] Outro with Morton Feldman: Rothko Chapel
Photo credits: Victoria Bond by Anna Abolgina, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Sebastian Currier by Monika Höfler, David Liebman and Miles Davis via Michael Lake, Davor Vincze via Stanford University, Utility Modern (Rashaan Carter, Brandon Seabrook, Bill Frisell, Marcus Gilmore) by Frank Heath, Mark Rothko by Denisova Olesya Alexandrovna, Jin Hi Kim and Henry Kaiser in 1986 via the artists, Tyshawn Sorey at Rothko Chapel by Elizabeth Conley, Joseph Franklin by Shannon May Powell.