Flotation Device presents an exclusive interview with Melvin Gibbs, bassist for power trio Harriet Tubman. Topics include his early influences, why he chose the electric bass as his primary musical vehicle, the genesis and philosophy of Harriet Tubman, and the unexpected connections between traditional African instruments and noise music.
We also salute master improvisors Craig Taborn and Tim Berne, and we honor the late Carla Bley, finding traces of her innovative big band music in a new album by Steve Lehman and the French Orchestre National de Jazz that also exhibits the influence of Sun Ra, who's heard in an October 1973 performance in France that's contemporaneous with the premiere of Iannis Xenakis's relentless solo piano piece Ervyali (both supplied through our "50 years ago in the avant-garde" feature). A modernist take on the humble recorder, expressed through a new concerto by Kalevi Aho, rounds out the playlist.
Annotated playlist and photo credits with Comments.
