Flotation Device 2026-07-05 - Dempster, Sun Ra, Kancheli

Flotation Device celebrates Stuart Dempster for his 90th birthday with a look at his career highlights as a trombonist, composer and didgeridoo player credited with co-founding Deep Listening Band, playing in the premiere and first recording of Terry Riley’s In C, and debuting the two most iconic solo trombone works in the modern repertory: Berio’s Sequenza V and Robert Erickson’s General Speech. Stuart is on hand to offer his own reflections and memories. And we also celebrate the centenary of composer Kenneth Gaburo, and the 50th anniversaries of John Cage’s bicentennial salute to America and Sun Ra’s momentous Montreux appearance that features some of the earliest Arkestra appearances by Ahmed Abdullah, Craig Harris and Vincent Chancey. Plus, Giya Kancheli’s final composition gets its premiere recording, and new albums by Chen Yi, Miles Okazaki, WRENS, Myra Melford and Satoko Fujii round out the playlist. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world.