Old meets New in this edition of Flotation Device, as Bright Sheng reflects on Chinese astrology, Francisco Mela revisits the piano trio format, and Kate Gentile and Matt Mitchell reassess the art of one-bar compositions. The London Experimental Ensemble offers an craggy perspective on plagues and Celtic ballads, while Prach Boondiskulchok composes for an archaic portative organ and the Dal:Um duet improvises on Korean zithers. Northwest transplant Steph Richards joins with Joshua White for a soggier kind of duet, while RN White, Cedrik Fermont and Ilya P. offer loopy but compassionate dark ambient flavors. Some chamber improv from Goat's NoteS’ Acoustic Fringe, a multitrack guitar serenade by Seattle native Peter Adriaansz and a historical cameo by the A.R.C. trio (Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Barry Altschul) round out the proceedings. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, originally broadcast May 25, 2025.
