Composer/intermedia artist, host for KBCS-FM, contributor to Sequenza 21, cribbage player. Views expressed are solely my own. https://xitter.cf/t.co/hwXlpnEebo
Seattle
Joined January 2012
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Today we remember Jack DeJohnette (1942–2025) on his jahrzeit. Possibly the most versatile drummer ever, as shown by his recordings with everyone from @MilesDavis & @_KeithJarrett to Roscoe Mitchell & @PatMetheny, all heard in this podcast
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice… @DeJohnetteMusic
Born on this date in 1925 was Luciano Berio, the most prominent Italian composer of the late 20th century. Today we're revisiting our centenary show from last year featuring Stuart Dempster, Cathy Berberian, @SeattleSymphony, @AlarmWillSound and more.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice…
Born OTD was Sofia Gubaidulina (1931–2025), perhaps the greatest of the late Soviet composers, renown for her choral, orchestral and chamber works. In this podcast though, we revisit her early career as a free improviser. (That's her with the drumsticks.)
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice…
Happy Podcast Monday! This week we preview DoYeon Kim and @MyraMelford at @EarshotJazz, plus Ludovic Morlot's return to @SeattleSymphony to conduct Samuel Adams with Conor Hanick. Plus Crumb, Maxwell Davies, David Shea and Quinsin Nachoff.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice… @WhirlwindRecord
Michael Schell retweeted
The goal is to create a sense of inevitable defeat in the majority. Vote early. On election day, help others who did not, or could not, vote early get to the polls. Bear witness to the crimes.
Michael Schell retweeted
I hate this. The fact is — El-Sayed is underperforming in a D +8 environment. If he was a stronger candidate, we would have had more money for FL or MS, but instead we’re investing in MI because he can’t put Rogers to bed like Cooper has in NC.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley in MI just praised AOC for the $1 million — and ripped DSCC.
“The DSCC should take note because it is shameful that we are not seeing an equitable investment in progressive and diverse candidates like Abdul El-Sayed, like Angie Nixon, like Scott Colom.”
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
DSCC has invested $16 million to date electing Abdul El-Sayed, according to its own statement. Senate Majority PAC has spent or committed tens of millions more in support.
x.com/ShaneGoldmache…
axios.com/2026/09/16/abd…
Tonight at @MeanyCenter the Arditti Quartet performs in Seattle for the first time in its 52-year history. On our new podcast founder/1st violinist Irvine Arditti chats with us about the concert. Plus @John_Hollenbeck plays @EarshotJazz.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice… @KBCS @OOYHRecords
Michael Schell retweeted
An interesting question is whether if Haley Stevens or Mallory McMorrow had won this nomination, would they need last-minute cash infusions or would this money be available for FL-Sen or TX-Gov instead?
NEWS: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just transferred $1 million to help elect Abdul El-Sayed for Senate in Michigan.
nytimes.com/2026/10/16/us/po…
Happy birthday to Mary Halvorson, born OTD in 1980 in Brookline. She was our guest on Flotation Device last year for a chat about teachers Braxton and Joe Morris, her guitar tech, and her recent albums with her own Amaryllis sextet for @NonesuchRecords.
youtu.be/NeRQI2xOA8I
Michael Schell retweeted
We now fully understand.
This election is not Republicans vs Democrats.
It's Russians vs Americans.
Pick a side.
Born on this date in 1935 in southeastern Idaho was La Monte Young, the original minimalist, and godfather of modern drone music, whose roots encompass jazz, Fluxus and Indian classical music. We tasted his uncompromising, unpopular music in this podcast.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice…
It's the birthday today of the pioneering Franco-Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho (1952– 2023), who's still getting premiere recordings. In this podcast we examine Vista, a late orchestral memento of California, with help from @BBCSSO and @OndineRecords.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice…
Last night I interviewed Irvine Arditti of the acclaimed Arditti Quartet, due to make its first-ever Seattle appearance Friday at @MeanyCenter. We discussed Ligeti, Berg, Beethoven, Ferneyhough, Durand and more. And you can now watch on YouTube.
youtu.be/YknMHwWhGdQ @KBCS
Michael Schell retweeted
Ukraine’s freedom is not President Trump’s to bargain away.
He is wrong to ease sanctions on Russian diesel, wrong to blame President Zelensky for prolonging Putin’s war, and wrong to undermine a nation fighting for its right to exist. Russia is the aggressor. Always has been. Reward Russia, and we should expect to see more aggression, including from other countries. We can also kiss goodbye to any just and lasting peace.
This is why Conservatives have stood with Ukraine against Putin. Ukraine’s future belongs to Ukrainians. They alone have the right to choose their president, and we stand with President Zelensky because he fights not for himself, but for the survival of his country and his people.
🔴 Trump backstabs Zelensky for five minutes of midterm relief
telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/…
Happy birthday to composer and pianist @TimoAndres, born in Palo Alto in 1985. His solo piece Colorful History (from his album The Blind Banister for @NonesuchRecords) is an interesting update to the passacaglia form, and was one of our picks of 2025.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice…
This week's podcast pays homage to @SteveReich for his 90th birthday with help from @BangOnACan @EnsembleModern @DJSpooky and more. Plus we interview Lucian Ban about his upcoming Bartók-inspired @EarshotJazz appearance with Mat Maneri.
mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice… @KBCS @NaxosRecords
Michael Schell retweeted
Ovechkin may be retiring to Mordor after this season, but Canada should sanction him now and send a clear message: celebrity endorsement of Putin’s regime and Russia’s criminal war must have real consequences. @hasek_dominik @Capitals @AnitaAnandMP theglobeandmail.com/gift/a2e…
It's Interview Monday today, as pianist Lucian Ban joins me on Flotation Device to discuss his and @MatManeri's Transylvanian Dance, coming to @EarshotJazz on October 9. Bartók's famous field recordings meet Downtown improv!
tinyurl.com/LucianBan @KBCS @ECMRecords @SunnysideRec
