Flotation Device takes one last look at Earshot Jazz's 2024 tribute to Sun Ra and Butch Morris, with Wayne Horvitz and Myra Melford offer their thoughts on the two masters. We then let our "50 years ago in the avant-garde feature" highlight the remarkable musical events of October 1974, when the prestigious Donaueschingen festival presented radical new works by Berio and Stockhausen while Braxton bridged divides, Henze looked back to Wagner, Grisey looked ahead to spectralism, The Residents channeled Zappa and Ives, and the latter’s centenary drew a brash commission from Elliott Carter. We hear from Ives directly in the form of a bitter election reflection and an impressive new recording of his violin sonatas by Stefan Jackiw and Jeremy Denk. And we find time to celebrate bassist Barre Phillips for his 90th birthday. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, from KBCS-FM Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
