Radio Eclectus #79: Duos and concertos (Jan. 21, 2021)

A classic, a rarity and many new discoveries await you on this edition of Radio Eclectus, including two ambitious concertos: Daníel Bjarnason's Violin Concerto (with soloist and whistler Pekka Kuusisto) and Bright Sheng’s Concerto for Orchestra (which contemplates the Chinese zodiac). We preview new duo improv albums featuring Roscoe Mitchell with Mike Reed, Fred Frith with Ikue Mori, and Susan Alcorn with Thollem McDonas. The Pacific Northwest is represented by Spontanea and Melia Watras, while Alexander Hawkins writes improvisational vehicles for Percy Pursglove and Riot Ensemble.

Piano pieces by Birtwistle and Michael Schelle, a couple fixed-media tracks from Unexplained Sounds Group's latest anthology, older classics by Martirano and Nicola LeFanu and intriguing new albums from Alvin Lucier and the Moscow-based group Acoustic Fringe round out the playlist. Radical new music from the Northwest and beyond with host Michael Schell.

Annotated playlist and photo credits in Comments.