January 19, 2026

Recently on BTT, I've been playing some longer tunes, often faves of some sort. This week, I brought out the longer version of Miles Davis' "Circle in the round", which is definitely a favourite. I've played this before but not for several years, maybe longer. Anyway, I was glad to put this one back on air again.

I was also pleased to feature a track from piano-player and composer Jason Moran ("Sound it out" from the album Black stars). Years back, I played Moran tunes here and there but, for some reason, I haven't done so recently. Like "Circle in the round", I was glad to play some Moran music.

Here's a link to the podcast for this show. 

We hit the end of January soon, with the next edition of Breaking The Tethers taking place on Monday, January 26, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. Please join me there and then.

Thanks.

Andrew

October 23, 2025 - Alternative To What?

In addition to hosting the 2025 Funding Drive (FD) show for Breaking The Tethers, three days earlier than this, I took part in the FD program for Alternative To What. I guest-hosted Alternative To What during funding drives 2024 and 2025. Regular host Kerry Clarke was back in person this year (she called in during the last couple of years) but asked me to join her live, which I was very glad to do. The songs played were mostly Kerry's fine selections but I picked a couple of tracks myself, "Sixteen shots" by Sugar Brown (which was a big hit when I played it on Alternative To What a few months earlier) and "Enlightenment" by the Atlantic Jazz Ensemble. You can take in the whole thing here.

Thanks.

Andrew

October 20, 2025

This was the annual Funding Drive (FD) program for Breaking The Tethers, part of CJSW's 2025 FD. You can listen to the whole thing here.

Musically, it featured a handful of great tracks that had been featured on various BTT episodes since the last FD show. I really liked all of the music but I think my favourite was "Theme from electric surfboard" by Brother Jack McDuff from Ain't no sunshine: live in Seattle.

Money-wise, nearly $800 was pledged on this show, a fantastic number, especially considering that BTT is a niche program and only on the air for one hour a week. Here's who donated; many, many thanks to them:

Daniel

Doug

Helen

Janine

Jaydene

Kat

Kerry

Kyle

Miguel

Peter

Rod

Scott

Steve

Tim

Thanks.

Andrew

October 27, 2025

This was the first show after the Breaking The Tethers CJSW 2025 Funding Drive program and a solid one it was at that, I think! My fave two bits were the Rich Brown track, "Turiyasangitanandada - the transcendental lord's highest song of bliss (meditation for Alice Coltrane)", which includes some spoken word by Alice herself, followed by "Battle at Armageddon" from Alice's record Universal consciousness. Check it out here.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 12, 2026

After playing the "father" (John Coltrane) two weeks ago, the "son" (Pharaoh Sanders) last week, it was the turn of the "holy ghost" or Albert Ayler this week. I selected one of his crazier tunes, featuring bagpipes in a free jazz setting, to inflict on the world. I've played this before, once or twice over the years, and it was time to turn to this fave again. The rest of the program was pretty nifty too; mostly newly-released stuff (including music inspired by Isaac Asimov!) that fit together very well. Go here to listen to this show.

Things carry on as per normal next week. Breaking The Tethers returns on Monday, January 19, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, Please join me then!

Thanks.

Andrew

January 8, 2026 - Alternative To What?

Alternative To What host, Kerry Clarke, summoned me to host this edition of ATW (or A2W), to which I gladly said "yes"!. I played the usual mixed bag o music though, if there was a lean this time, it was a lean to hard(er) rock (heck, I played Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult!). Also, I managed to fit in 22 songs. That's a fair number, even for two hours. If you're hosting a punk show, 22 songs is no problem but most other types of programs can't make that total, usually (coming from a jazz show, if I play 8 or 9 tracks in an hour, I've squeezed things about as much as I can). You can listen to the podcast of this Alternative To What episode here.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 5, 2025

The first show of a new year. I figured I would start with a bang of sorts, by playing "Sun in Aquarius" by Pharoah Sanders, from his Jewels of thought album. It's got melodic segments but most of this track is a freak-out, complete with gong action (we need more gongs in music these days, I say). In the free jazz tenor sax player pantheon, as described by Albert Ayler, John Coltrane is the Father, Pharoah Sanders in the Son, and Ayler is the Holy Ghost. As I played Coltrane last week, playing Sanders this week seemed appropriate. Next week, I think I'll pull out some Ayler. Here's where you can tune into this week's program: shorturl.at/4hrGP.

The second episode of BTT for 2026 will take place on Monday, January 12, running from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. I'm hoping you can join me!

I should note that I will be back on air before next Monday. On this coming Thursday, January 8, I'll be subbing for regular host Kerry Clarke on her program, Alternative To What. Come hang with me from 4 to 6 pm MT, again, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew