CJSW Funding Drive 2023 - BTT results!

Not long ago, I got the final results for Breaking The Tethers from the 2023 CJSW Funding Drive. There were 11 kind folks who pledged for the show, bringing a fantastic total of nearly $1300! If this is not the best-ever total for BTT, it's certainly the best for many years! And it hits my goal of making 4 digits during the Drive! Many thanks to everyone who pledged to the station during the Drive and, more specifically, many thanks to everyone who pledged for Breaking The Tethers; here's who deserves all the praise:

Amy 

Erin

Helen

Janine

Laurie

Matthew

Miguel

Mirella

Reilly

Steven

Stewart

Thanks again!

Andrew

November 20, 2023

My description for this edition of BTT on the show site was "Just a good show, packed with music!". This is a fine way of putting it. The program worked well and several tunes, mostly of some length, were  played. I strongly recommend giving it a listen 😁; to do this go here. 

The next BTT episode will be on Monday, November 27, usual time, usual place (that is, 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM). I suspect it'll be a lot like the November 20 program; fine music played.

Thanks.

Andrew

October 23, 2023

This was the 2023 CJSW Funding Drive Breaking The Tethers show. Lots of good things happened. Let's make a list. In no particular order...

*The station reached the $70,000 level during the program! That was a really wonderful thing to happen.

*I don't have a final total for the number of people who pledged during BTT (I'll have that in the coming weeks) but there were a bunch of folks who did. Money-wise, again, I don't have a final figure but it's somewhere in the hundreds. Many, many thanks to everyone who donated during the program!

*Many thanks also to CJSW station manager, Adam Kamis, who joined me on air for most of the show. It's always good to hear his perspective on the funding drive and CJSW.

*This week's edition of BTT was mostly talk but, interestingly, I did manage play more music than I expected I would play. All of the tracks came from the Breaking The Tethers 2023 Funding Drive mix (available at the $100 donation level). You can see a list of everything played and listen to the show (again) here. 

I am a lucky man. I get to host my show during this year's funding drive AND I get to guest-host another CJSW program, Alternative To What, this week. The regular host, Kerry Clarke, is away so she has kindly handed me the reigns for this important edition of ATW. We will track Kerry down and give her a call during the show. Everyone is welcome to join me on Thursday, October 27, from 4 to 6 pm MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. There'll be some great tunes played and there will be many fantastic incentives available for pledging. 

On the subject of pledging, you can definitely still donate. You can call 403-220-5000 or go to csjw.com/donate.

I'll be back next week with a more regular edition of Breaking The Tethers. I will have an interview with one or two of the guys from Peripheral Vision, who have a new record out. We'll chat and play some of their new tunes. Go to cjsw.com or 90.9 FM on Monday, October 30, from 10 to 11 am MT.

Many thanks.

Andrew

CJSW Funding Drive 2023

So, CJSW Funding Drive 2023 is upon us. This is a vitally important time for Calgary's campus and community radio station, when we call upon our fine listeners to help support the station, to enable CJSW to continue to offer the fantastic, amazing programs that it does and to help it grow, develop, and more! If you'd like to donate, you can do so online here. Alternately, you can call 403-220-5000 through 6 pm on Thursday, October 28 and pledge over the phone. You can pay right away or there is a monthly instalment option. There are incentives at various donation levels; these can be seen here.

The Breaking The Tethers 2023 Funding Drive show will take place tomorrow, Monday, October 23, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. I’ll be spinning some tracks for the BTT digital mix o’ tunes, which will be available as a pledge incentive. All the tracks in the mix have been played on BTT since the 2022 Funding Drive. Here's a list of what's in the mix:

Astrocolor - "Singularity"

Association P.C. - "Totemism"

The Muffins - "Three days that won't soon fade"

Chet Doxas - "House of Ypres"

Ksawery Wojcinski - "1st impression"

Pete McCann - "Trifecta"

Miriodor - "Boomerang"

Soft Machine - "Backwards"

Jason Dole - "Of being disturbed"

Patricia Brennan - "El nahualli (the shadow soul)"

Noah Howard - "This place called earth"

Raoul Bjorkenheim & Krakatau - "Foot talk"

Joe Henderson - "Current events"

Todd Marcus - "Ground zero (at Penn. & North)"

Delvon Lamar Organ Trio - "Move on up"

There will be other incentives during the live show as well. I’m hoping everyone can join me. 

I should also note that I’ll be hosting the Funding Drive edition of another fine CJSW program, the long-running Alternative To What? (cjsw.com/program/alternative-to-what/). The host, Kerry Clarke, will be away (though we’ll track her down by phone and chat with her during the broadcast) and has deputized me to fill in. You can hang with me on ATW on Thursday, October 27, 4 to 6 pm, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

I’ll be posting updates on social media. My Twitter handle is @01Waller and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/andrew.waller.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at wallersmooth@gmail.com.

Many thanks.

Andrew

July 17, 2023

Gonna note three items about this BTT show (I could make many more, of course, but I'll stick with three, for brevity's sake 😁):

*I really dug the starting tune, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio's version of Curtis Mayfield's "Move on up". It's a fairly well covered song but the Delvon Lamarr group do it in a particularly hard and funky style. Move on up and dance!

*I haven't played Miles Davis in a while (maybe quite a while) so I rectified that situation by playing some Miles Davis, specifically "Lonely fire". "Lonely fire" comes off the odds and ends album released in 1974, Big fun. 

*A new Frank Zappa album has recently been released, Funky nothingness, which documents 1970 recordings made just post-Hot rats. There's some jazzy stuff on this record so I figured it would be appropriate to feature a track or two on Breaking The Tethers. This week, I played "Halos and arrows". I think I'll play a version of "Chunga's revenge" from Funky nothingness in a few weeks.

I'll be around for the next BTT episode, on Monday, July 24 (10 to 11 am MT, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM) and then I'll be gone for the July 31 program (more on this soon). I'll be back for the August 7 show.

Thanks.

Andrew

July 10, 2023

Mostly new material played this week with some older stuff tucked in. Some notes:

*On the July 3 program, I featured a fair amount of jazz-rock and fusion. I thought I’d make a connection to that program by starting off with some Return To Forever.

*The present-day line-up of Soft Machine put out a new album, Other voices, at the end of June. I picked it up, of course, and played a track today, a new version of the classic piece from Third, “Backwards” (it’s the latter section of “Slightly all the time” on Third).

*I’m not big on vocal jazz (to say the least, some would say) but I did play some today, a song called “Reverie” by Nicole Zuratis from her recent release, How love begins.

*Apart from Soft Machine, I managed to squeeze in some more Canterbury sound music, at the end of the show, “Waltz for Nobby” by Hugh Hopper & Alan Gowan. 

Listen here for the full show.

Next show: Monday, July 17, at the usual time, 10 to 11 am MT, at the usual place, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

June 19, 2023

While there was no shortage of notable musical selections in this episode of BTT, perhaps the one that caught my ear the most was Jazz Sabbath’s version of the Black Sabbath classic “N.I.B.”. I knew there was a first Jazz Sabbath album, released in 2020, but I hadn’t heard about the second one, which came out in 2022. Anyway, I always love playing their stuff; it’s fun. Check out Jazz Sabbath and much more from this show here. 

Thanks.

Andrew

June 26, 2023

Apart from music, the top thing this week on Breaking The Tethers was a phone interview with Ed Durocher, the main man from Winnipeg's Apollo Suns. Many thanks to Ed for calling in and chatting. The Suns were part of the Jazz YYC Summer Festival that week. They've also played live on BTT twice (plus another time on CJSW, on a different show). I'm hoping they'll play live on BTT sometime soon again.

Music-wise, I played a couple of Apollo Suns tracks (of course!) and some other cool stuff, including the first Sun Ra track I've played in some time, "The conversation of J.P."

Thanks.

Andrew

July 3, 2023

We hit July, the summer, and the midway point of the year with a very jazz-rock feel (dare I say fusion?). For example, we had "Soft machine" by Uzva; "Situation" from the Jeff Beck group, recorded live; and "Tidal wave" by Sea Level. It was just missing some Return To Forever, which I might play next week 😆. Plenty of other non-jazz-rock/fusion tracks played today, though. I guess it was just a good, overall show. I'm fine with that! Go here to give this program a whirl.

Breaking The Tethers next appears live on Monday, July 10, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT. Please join me then! Hope you can!

Thanks.

Andrew

June 1, 2023 - Alternative To What?

Kerry Clarke, host of CJSW show Alternative To What?, kindly invited me in to guest-host ATW this week. I'm always happy to take over the reigns for an episode of this show, especially as it allows me to spread my wings over that musical map (mixing a few metaphors here). The June 1 episode followed in this trend, featuring folk, punk, metal, funky stuff, oddball jazz, Tonto, Wesley Willis, Jim Jones (yes, that Jim Jones), and more. You can listen to the podcast of the show here.

Thanks.

Andrew

 

April 24, 2023

This was a music-filled show, with not too much jibber-jabber from me. There were plenty of new releases, Canadian content, and out-leaning jazz. An apology from me: If you listen to the podcast of this program (which you can do here), you'll notice that I didn't record the first few minutes or so of the episode. Sorry for this; things were a little rushed and I was a little clumsy at the start. The vast majority of the show is there, though.

We hit the end of April (already!) next week. Tune in for BTT again on Monday, April 31 at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

April 17, 2023

Here are the ingredients for this episode of Breaking The Tethers: lots of newly-released jazz + a few solo numbers (flute, piano, guitar) + a couple of space-themed tunes (from Redline Trio and Astrocolor) + a bunch of Canadian music. Check out the results here.

There's two more BTT shows in April 2023. You can catch the first of these on Monday, April 24 from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

April 10, 2023

The main feature of this show, apart from my return to hosting after two weeks away, was a dichotomy. There was one long song, "Buzzsaw: the myth of a free press" by Wadada Leo Smith, follow by 11 shorter pieces, some very short, at least by jazz standards. Most of the tracks were new releases and a bunch were Canadian.

Next week will be in the same (large) ballpark but different stuff. Come hang with me on Monday, April 17, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

March 27 and April 3, 2023

I was away for sunnier climes for these two shows. Mikail Hendi filled in for me on both programs and did a great job, playing some interesting stuff. Give them a listen. March 27 is here and April 3 is here. 

I make my grand return (ha!) on Monday, April 10. I've got some fine music on deck; I think I'll start with a piece by Wadada Leo Smith. Join me from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

March 20, 2023

This was a show I really liked (not that I dislike any of the programs I do). Lots of fairly crazy stuff played today, which is maybe why I really liked the show 😄. Here are some of my favourites from this week:

"Misanthropic vindaloo" by the Avi Granite 6 from their new album, Operator.  I'm a sucker for interesting or odd titles. The music is great too and matches the title.

"Vietcong" by the Gary Bartz Ntu Troop. Might be silly, definitely funny, though I think it was meant to be serious. We see and hear things differently looking back.

"Out-bloody-rageous" by Soft Machine, from the (semi) bootleg, Orange skin food. A shortened version of the tune, with some interesting stuff going on in the second part, different than it was usually played at the time of recording (August 1970, I believe).

"Six-handed Casio" by the Sao Paulo Underground. Like most of their stuff, just nuts.

You can listen to the podcast of this program here.

I will be venturing to sunnier and hotter places for the next week or so and will miss two editions of Breaking The Tethers, March 27 and April 3. Sitting in for me will be Mickail Hendi. Many thanks to Mickail for guest hosting! You can join him both days at cjsw.com or at 90.9 FM, 10 to 11 am MT. I'll return for the April 10 episode.

Thanks.

Andrew

March 13, 2023

This was the first show back for me after two weeks away (thanks again for hosting, Tim Mah!) and it was a fun one. There was Indo-jazz crossed with Miles Davis, Turkish jazz, Muffins, a lesser-known Wayne Shorter (RIP!) tune, Frankenstein, and two McBrides. Check it out here.

I'll be away for a couple of weeks again soon. I'll miss the March 27 and April 3 shows (more on this coming up) but I'll still be able to host the March 20 program. Join me for that one from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

March 6, 2022

Tim Mah from Jazz Today guest-hosted this edition of Breaking The Tethers, as he did the previous week. The main thing was his interview with Mark DeJong and Jeff Sulima of the Redline Trio. He also played four of their tunes. You can listen to the recording of this show here.

I'm happy that I'll be back behind the boards and on the mic for BTT on Monday, March 13, usual time (10 to 11 am MT), usual place (cjsw.com or 90.9 FM). No music this week, just some jazz.

Thanks.

Andrew

 

February 27, 2023

This was the first of two Breaking The Tethers episodes guest-hosted by Tim Mah. Tim, who is the regular host of Jazz Today on CJSW, did a fine job as always. Good music was played plus Tim interviewed Graham and John from the Bright Side Festival.

Tim will be back on BTT next Monday, March 6, 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

February 20, 2023

The main event this week was another interview, this time with Avi Granite, guitarist, composer, and leader of the band, Avi Granite 6, who have a new album, Operator, coming out (on Friday) and are embarking on a western Canadian tour. Many thanks to Avi for joining us and chatting.

Music-wise, there was a nice mix, maybe more straight-ahead than usual.

The whole show is available for you to listen to here.

No interview next week, just a bunch of good music. Tune in with me on Monday, February 27, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

February 13, 2023

Had another interview this week, with Canadian musician (trombone player) William Carn, who has a new album out, Choices.  Many thanks to William for joining Breaking The Tethers today.

On the music side of things, there were some pretty nifty songs played. My fave was “Decisions have already been made” by East Axis, a new release. It’s always good to hear some crazy jazz, which this was.

The interview trend continues next week. Avi Granite, leader of the Avi Granite 6, will be calling into BTT to chat about his new album, Operator, and the band’s 2023 tour dates. And, as always, good music will be played!  Tune in on Monday, February 20 from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

February 6, 2023

I've talked about this before but sometimes shows just fall together nicely. This was one of those programs. Everything flowed nicely and the songs (nothing too far out and nothing too far in this week) fit together well. You can listen to the podcast of the show here.

Breaking The Tethers will be back on Monday, February 13, 10 to 11 am MT, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. There'll be good music played, as per usual, but there will also be a guest interview. I'll be talking with trombonist William Carn about his work, including his new album.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 30, 2023

The main feature of the Jan. 30 BTT show was an interview with guitar player and composer Matt Greenwood, calling in from Toronto. Despite some technical issues at the start, the interview went well and I played three tracks from his new album, Atlas. Many thanks to Matt for calling in!

I also planned this show to be an "all-new" program, something I haven't done for several months. But I was foiled by one song from 2018 that snuck in, "Ground zero (at Penn. and North)" by Todd Marcus, from his album On these streets. Oh well.

You can listen to the whole thing here.

And you can listen to next week's edition of BTT on Monday, February 6, at 10 am MT, on cjsw.com or 90.9 FM or on the amazing new CJSW app.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 23, 2023

Another show with mostly longer tracks this week, especially the first piece of music played, "The ascending of the soul" by Hannibal Marvin Peterson & the Sunrise Orchestra, which is over 17 minutes in length. Only six tunes played in all, a few less than usual, but all good stuff. Please give it a listen here.

Breaking The Tethers will be back next week, on Monday, January 30, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM or via the (new) CJSW app. Also next week, I'll be interviewing guitarist Matt Greenwood, who just released a new album, Atlas. We'll chat (on the phone) and play some of his new tunes.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 16, 2023

Just a good overall show here, featuring only six songs (normally BTT features eight to ten tracks) but six great songs that fit together very well. One I'd like to point out particularly is "416 East 10th Street" by the late great Lee Morgan. I haven't played any Lee Morgan for quite some time, I believe, and I was glad to fix that issue this week.

We head into late(r) January 2023 with next week's program. Lend me your ears on Monday, January 23, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

Alternative To What? January 12, 2023

I was lucky enough to be able to guest-host Alternative To What on CJSW again this week (many thanks to regular host Kerry Clarke!). As with my last ATW hosting gig, I decided to go here, there, and everywhere musically. There was reggae, pow-wow music, metal, weirdo jazz, UK folk, Americana, funky stuff, comedy, minimalistic synths, and much more. It was a fun show. Give it a listen here.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 9, 2023

This was the second BTT show for 2023 and I think things are off to a good start music-wise (at least!). Mostly longer tracks were featured this week. Things were a little proggy and/or in part on the outside edge of the jazz world. I very much liked everything that was played but maybe my top track was “Visions” by Bobby Hutcherson; it was a nice follow-up to the longer, freakier “Totemism” by Association P.C. Anyway, you can take it all it at bit.ly/3irMpDO

There’s more BTT next week, of course. Join me for the next edition on Monday, January 16 at cjsw.com or at 90.9 FM from 10 to 11 am MT.

I should also add that I’ll be guest-hosting another CJSW program, Alternative to What?, on Thursday, January 12 from 4 to 6 pm. Join me then too!

Thanks.

Andrew

December 26, 2022

This was the second of two semi-Christmas shows on Breaking The Tethers in holiday season 2022. I played some of the usual BTT-kinda music along with a few special Christmas tunes. My faves this week included "The call" by Mal Waldron (I haven't played any Mal for a long time; this track comes from the only album where he plays electric piano) and "Merry Fucking Christmas" by Alias Frequencies, another sound collage (I play it every year; it tends to drive listeners crazy, in a good way 😁). The podcast for this program is here.

Thanks.

Andrew

December 19, 2022

Christmas Day 2022 fell between two editions of Breaking The Tethers so I figured I'd do two semi-Christmas shows, one before the 25th (this episode) and one after (on Boxing Day, actually), and feature the usual BTT music with an assortment of weirdo Xmas stuff. This week, my fave tunes were "Spacetrack" by Freddie Hubbard (I really dig his early 70s period) and the excerpt from Wayne Butane's "Xmas" sound collage (which gets a play every holiday season). You can listen to all of the fun here.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 2, 2023

A new year starts with what could be called a “typical” Breaking The Tethers show. Ingredients: A bunch of new stuff, some older material, several “out there” tracks, and a few (somewhat) mellower items. It was a good way to commence another 365 (actually, 364 at that point). Listen to it here.

2023 show no. 2 takes place on Monday, January 9, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. Hope you can lend me your ears then.

Thanks.

Andrew