Traffic on the American Highway can take many forms, loud or quiet, fast or furious, intense or dense – tonight Fred Frith is in the driver’s seat, with his brand of electronic guitar sounds and minimalist avant-gardism – and no less than the Ensemble Moderne.

In this episode, pianist Guy Livingston brings us music of Frith as well as Roger Kleier, Florian Weber & Angelika Niescier, and the Razorbacks. Plus a quirky quotation by John Cage, as he sits calmly in his noisy New York apartment, at an open window, with the sirens and traffic sounds swirling around him.

AMERICAN HIGHWAYS #104: TRAFFIC

Playlist:

Theme Music:

Jan Jeroen (J.J.) Spijkervet & Immersive Sound

“American Highways” Jingle

Sounds About Right

composed for Concertzender

Roger Kleier

Step out of the Car

Guy Livingston

Wergo 6649-2

Florian Weber & Angelika Niescier

And Over

Invaded

FAr Krefeld

Angelika Niescier Saxophone, Ralph Alessi Trumpet Florian Weber Piano, Christopher Tordini Bass, Tyshawn Sorey Drums

Naxos: INTAKT 263

Duda & Bundy

Restless for the Road

The Razorbacks

Fury Records ‎– FCD 3061

Fred Frith

Traffic

8. Inadvertent Introduction

9. Traffic II

10. Third Riddle

11. Lourdement Gai

12. Traffic III / Traffic I

13. Freeway / Shadow of a Tree on Sand

14. Fragile Finale

Fred Frith & Ensemble Modern; Franck Ollu, cond.

WDR & Winter 910 044-2 LC 02829

Closing tune:

David King

Super America

The Bad Plus

E1 Records: EOM-CD-2112