May 15, 2025 - Alternative To What?

This was the first of two Alternative To What programs I'm going to be guest-hosting in May. Many thanks as always to regular ATW host Kerry Clarke for tapping me to fill in. Today's program leaned a bit to the jazzy side of things, especially in the second hour. A fair chunk of the first hour was made up of a special feature: I played one track, in order, from each of Philip Glass' symphonies that were based on David Bowie's (and Brian Eno's) Berlin trilogy albums, Low, Heroes, and Lodger. The first symphonies were put out in the 1990s but the last one didn't appear until 2022 and I didn't hear it until earlier this year. Now that all three have crossed my ears I figured it was time to put a sampler on air. You can listen to the Glass/Bowie/Eno pieces plus the rest of the show on the podcast here.

The second edition of Alternative To What that I'll be hosting will be on Thursday, May 22. Come travel all over the musical map with me from 4 to 6 pm MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

May 12, 2025

For the first time this calendar year, I decided, very close to airtime, that this edition of Breaking The Tethers was going to be an "all-new" show. And that's what it ended up being; eight songs played, in a variety of styles (perhaps leaning more to the outside?), all of which are newly-released or newly-re-released. While I dug them all, my favourite was probably "34a" by Steve Lehman from The music of Anthony Braxton. The recording of all of this is here.

Monday, May 19 features the next BTT program. Join me for more music and more music from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

I'll also be making a couple of appearances on Alternative To What? in May, on Thursday, May 15 and Thursday, May 16, 4 to 6 pm both days. A tip of the hat to regular host Kerry Clarke for letting me do my thing on her show.

Thanks.

Andrew

May 5, 2025

May arrives for Breaking The Tethers and brings a show that definitely leans to more out there sounds leavened by some soul jazz ("Trane's terrain" by Jon Bentley) and a tribute to Joe Williams ("Sad song" by Planet D Nonet with Leonard King). The craziest of the crazy music had to be "Il Teatro Rosso, scene II - the spasms of trapped animals" by No Hay Banda / Steven Takasugi / Huei Lin which I described in an internal CJSW review of the album (Il Teatro Rosso) as, to paraphrase myself, "free jazz or chamber music made by rodents on meth". It's wild stuff; the last few minutes of the track sound like the end of the world is coming. You can listen to it, and the rest of the program here.

There will be more great music, wild and otherwise, on the next edition of BTT, on Monday, May 12, 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. Please join me if you can (and I hope you can!)

Thanks.

Andrew

PS I'll also be guest hosting on Alternative To What on two Thursdays in May, May 15 and 22. More on this soon.

April 28, 2025

Last week's program, on April 21, featured an interview (with Rachel Therrien, which was great) so I figured I'd keep the words to somewhat of a minimum this week and have a music-heavy show (not that that BTT episodes aren't always full of music). Which is exactly what happened; nine songs played, many fairly long, from a fair number of styles (avant-jazz, contemporary jazz, afro-jazz, Canterbury sound, jazz-rock, and more). I invite you to give it a listen here.

Celebrate the arrival of May with another BTT show, on Monday, May 5, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT. See you then!

Thanks.

Andrew

April 21, 2025

The main thing in this week's program was an interview with trumpet and flugelhorn player, composer, and bandleader Rachel Therrien. This was originally supposed to happen a few weeks ago but it came to pass today. It was great to chat with her about her music, her new album, her touring, and her future plans.

In addition to the interview, much fine music was played. Perhaps the best way to describe these is to say that there was heaven, angels, Satan, purgatory, and a necropolis. Take a look at the song titles and you'll figure this out! 😁

BTT finishes out in April with a show on Monday, April 28 (which is federal election day in Canada - if you can vote in Canada, get out and vote!). Go to cjsw.com or 90.9 FM from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

April 14, 2025

What did we have on the Breaking The Tethers musical plate today? Notes on a few items:

*I went proggy and played some Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP). But it was a jazzy ELP, the "Piano improvisations" section from the live album Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends.

*Brian Baggett, he of Chapman Stick fame, is back with a new album, Travel past the aftermath. The track I featured on the show, "Ojos verdes", was completely appropriate, I think, as I have green eyes 😁.

*A recent fave discovery:"Starless and bible black" by the Stan Tracey Quartet of Under milk wood: jazz suite from 1965. Serious moody stuff.

*All hail "Big tuba" from the album of the same name by the Hot 8 Brass Band. Tuba! Tuba! Tuba!

You can listen to all of this and more here.

More great stuff next week, including the rescheduled interview with Rachel Therrien. Please join me on Monday, April 21, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

April 7, 2025

The main item was supposed to be an interview with trumpet and flugelhorn player Rachel Therrien. It didn't come to pass but it's been rescheduled for Monday, April 21. We'll talk about her new album and her tour and play a track or two from the album.

This week's show ended up being all music, which is never a bad thing. There was plenty of Canadian sounds, tunes from two all-female bands (Artemis and Ostara Project), and some of what could be called "oddball" jazz. The podcast of the program is here.

The next edition of BTT will be on Monday, April 14, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. It'll be all music again (well, I'll talk a bit between the tunes).

Thanks.

Andrew

March 31, 2025

Back after a week away (thanks for guest-hosting Hanna Ferrow!), I think I put out a pretty strong show, made out of a few parts out-there jazz (e.g. "Motion" by Joe Farrell, "Things and beings" by Sonny Simmons), a couple of touches of Africa ("Waka juju parts 1 and 2" by Manu Dibango), a dash of 70s jazz-rock ("Ice cream cakes" by the Jeff Beck Group), some long-time favourites (e.g. "Contemporary focus" by McCoy Tyner, "Pillars of Hercules" by Atlantis Jazz Ensemble), and two moody mellow set enders ("Summer storm" by Okonski, "Sonora" by Benjie Porecki). Four of the tracks were new releases. All in all, a nice package. You can listen to this program, for the first time or again, here. 

The next BTT edition will be the first in April, on Monday, April 7. The start time will be 10 am MT and the location will be cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. Please tune in!

Thanks.

Andrew

March 24, 2025

I was away at a conference for my other work so Hanna Ferrow took the wheel at BTT this week. And she did good! Fine musical selections were featured, including plenty of new material and lots of Canadian stuff. Can't ask for more than that. Many thanks to Hanna! The audio of this show can be found here.

Before I went away, on the March 17 version of Breaking The Tethers, I announced that I would be back on the first Monday of April. However, I forgot that March has 31 days (something I'm normally pretty good at remembering!) So, my return to BTT will be on Monday, March 31, not Monday, April 7 (though I'll be on air that day too). Join me from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. 

Thanks.

Andrew

March 17, 2025

Regarding last week’s show, I said it was “solid”, which is completely true. The same term can apply to today’s program. Seven great tracks featured, from different time periods, in different yet complimentary styles. Let me focus on a few of these:

“Xermeris” by Yellowjackets. I don’t play much music like this; it can be too close to smooth jazz for my liking and I have no love for smooth jazz. But the Yellowjackets never quite seem to cross the line into the mush zone. And this track is actually kinda far out, at least for the Yellowjackets.

“A man is like a tree by Healing Force. Albert Ayler wrote bonkers songs and Healing Force does a bonkers version of a bonkers song. Heck, the whole album is crazed. And this is a good thing.

“Penny” by Okonski. Just a pretty piece of music.

“The vibe” by Nanami Haruta. The album that this comes from has loads of trombone, sometimes singly, sometimes doubly. Plus there’s baritone sax here and there. If you dig the bass clef, this might be a good record for you. 

You can listen to these tracks and three more here. 

For the next Breaking The Tethers show, and the last of the month, on Monday, March 24, I will be away. Hannah Ferrow will be filling in for me. Please join her from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM for a great show.

I’ll be back behind the board on Monday, April 7, usual time, usual place.

Thanks.

Andrew

March 10, 2025

BTT show number two of 2025 brought some solid music; some old, some new, some well-know names, some not. A few comments:

"Mumbo jumbo" from the Paul Motian Band has always been a favourite of mine, especially the first guitar solo.

Anything from Miles From India, studio or the few live tracks, is well worth listening to.

"Hip ensemble"! Roy Haynes in 70s funky jazz mode! What more can be said.

Steve Lehman and group play Anthony Braxton's "Unbroken and unspoken" - fairly freaky, fairly dense stuff.

"Tyner time" is an appropriately-title exciting piece from day job law professor Perea.

Check out all of these and more on the recording of this program, here. 

Please tune in for more of the same (but different!) next Monday, March 17, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT. 

Thanks.

Andrew

PS I'll be away for the March 24 edition of BTT. More on this next week.

March 3, 2025

I described this week’s show (mostly) as jazz-rock, with some prog. Lots of faves in this one; heck, I really liked everything. I’ve been featuring a few previously-played tunes, sometimes from years ago, over the past few months. The repeat song here was “Welcome to the basement” by Merl Saunders, a great number that definitely falls into jazz-rock territory. Listen to it all here.

We jump further into March and more great jazzy sounds next week, Monday, March 10. Tune in from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

February 20, 2025 - Alternative To What?

Once again, I was called into duty to guest-host on Alternative To What on CJSW. Regular host Kerry was away. As usual on ATW, I sent feelers out to many points in the musical world. Perhaps the main slant was in an experiment direction but there were also dollops of jazz, blues, David Bowie, comedy, and much more. I thought it all worked quite well. It's all here.

Thanks.

Andrew

February 24, 2025

Breaking The Tethers was on air today but there was no Andrew. I had a medical appointment I had to attend at the same time but, no worries, Drew Miller ably filled my shoes and more. He did an awesome job, playing some great music. Many thanks to Drew! See the fine setlist and listen the program here. 

My dulcet tones return to radio on Monday, March 3, same time and same place: cjsw.com or 90.9 FM from 10 to 11 am MT. Please join me there and then!

Thanks.

Andrew

February 17, 2025

I've said this before, probably on many occasions, but some Breaking The Tethers shows just fall together nicely, especially musically. I'd say this show falls into that category. It just worked well (at least to my ears!). My fave songs from this episode? "First light" by Freddie Hubbard, "Bloom" by Amnesiac Quartet, "Mammoth no arms" by Rare Air, and "Gift" by Mikrokolektyw.

A couple of notes about shows over the next couple of weeks:

*I will be away from BTT for the Monday, February 24 program. Drew Miller will be filling in for me; he'll do a fine job. I'll be back for the first show in March, Monday the 3rd.

*Speaking of filling in, I'll be doing so for Alternative To What on Thursday, February 20, 4 to 6 pm MT, at the usual place (cjsw.com or 90.9 FM)

Thanks.

Andrew

February 3, 2025

After a break of a week, I started the show with another (very) long track, which has been a recent trend on Breaking The Tethers. The big tune this week was  “In ‘n’ out” by McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson recent release Forces of nature: live at Slugs’. It’s quite a kicking piece. Listen to it here.

I’m not sure if I’m going to start next week’s program with a long track. To find out, join me on Monday, February 10, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

February 10, 2025

A long song was featured at the start of BTT this week. This time, it was "Out-blood-rageous" by Soft Machine, the version from the Third album, once of my all-time fave tunes. I've played it before but not for several years, I think. It made an appearance this week in honour of its composer, keyboardist Mike Ratledge, who passed away on February 5.

The show ended with a trip to hell. Or, more specifically, I played "Hell" by the Squirrel Nut Zippers. I've put this track on BTT before but, again, not for a long time. It was a snappy way to end things.

I'll be back for another BTT program on Monday, February 17, which is the Family Day holiday in various Canadian provinces, including Alberta, where I live (I'll be away the week after that; more on that soon). Join me at the usual time and the usual place: 10 to 11 am MT and cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 27, 2024

Well, for a few different reasons, this was a kinda shambolic edition of Breaking The Tethers. But, as always (I think), the music was good! Perhaps the main thing to note, musically speaking, was that the program didn't start with a (very) long tune. For the past few weeks, I've been starting BTT with a long track but this week, I didn't do that. This resulted in nine pieces being played, which is the usual number for the show. However, next week, I think I will get things going with another long one. Beyond that, who knows? 😁 

The podcast for the January 27 episode is here.

We enter the month of February with the next BTT show. You can check things out at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM on Monday, February 3, from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 20, 2025

Once again, the show commenced with a longer track ("Spacelift" by Hughscore from Delta flora). I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep up this practice but I'm enjoying it for now. One drawback is that it leaves less time for other songs though, this week, I managed to squeeze in another seven tunes, despite the big starter. I'll call that success! We'll see what happens next week. In the meantime, you can listen to the Jan. 20 program (again) here.

Speaking of next week, January 27, the coordinates are 90.9 FM or cjsw.com, from 10 to 11 am MT. I hope you can join me!

Thanks.

Andrew

January 13, 2025

Only five songs played in today's show and, like the past few weeks, I started things with a long track. This week, the big piece was "Taking off" by McCoy Tyner and Joe Henderson, from the new album Forces of nature: live at Slugs', which was released late in 2024 though recorded in spring 1966. "Taking off" went on for almost 30 minutes. It's pretty driven stuff. You can feed the whole show to your ears here.

There's more BTT next week, on Monday January 20. Go to cjsw.com or 90.9 FM from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 9, 2025 - Alternative To What?

With regular host Kerry Clarke away in NYC, I was called into duty once again to host Alternative To What on CJSW (thanks, Kerry). As I usually do, I went here, there, and everywhere (more or less) across musical territory and played a wide variety of tracks, 18 in all. However, I will admit to a bit of a jazz lean in this program (not that that's a bad thing!), though not all of the jazz artists featured actually played a jazz tune (see "Part 4" by Pat Metheny from the album Zero tolerance for silence). Anyway, I had lots of fun this week. You can too, by listening to this show here.

Thanks.

Andrew

December 19, 2024 - Alternative To What?

Another guest-host gig for me. Because this was just before Christmas, I thought I would mix my usual sort of Alternative To What play list (all over the musical map) with some holiday season weirdness, including folky Christmas (“Greensleeves” by James Taylor and “God rest ye merry gentlemen jam” by Jerry Garcia and David Griman), sound collage Christmas (“Xmas” by Wayne Butane), avant-garde Christmas (“Xmas” by Bent Spoon Trio with Jay Crocker), and funky Christmas (“Hey America” by James Brown). All great stuff, I think. Listen to the lot here.

Thanks.

Andrew

November 21, 2024 - Alternative To What?

Just one week after guest-hosting Alternative To What, I hosted another episode (thanks, Kerry!) Following the pattern of the previous show, I played loads of music from all over the musical universe. I called the November 14 show “nifty” and I call this one “nifty” too. The listening place is here.

Thanks,

Andrew

November 14, 2024 - Alternative To What?

I was very lucky to be called back in to host Alternative To What for this week. Regular host Kerry couldn't do her usual thing so it fell to me. As always, I was pleased as punch to be able to be behind the board for ATW. I managed to fit in 22 tracks from here, there, and everywhere, musically speaking. Looking at what was played, I can say that this was a really nifty show. Fave song title: “Sokushinbutsu” by No Codes from the Usual suspects album; the term is used to describe a self-mummification process! Thanks.

Andrew

October 24, 2024 - Alternative To What?

As happened in 2023, Alternative To What regular host Kerry Clarke was away at the time of the CJSW 2024 Funding Drive (if I remember correctly, she was in Scotland; she called in). Very kindly, she picked me once again to host ATW during the Drive. I had a great time, as I always do when I host ATW, and lots of money was raised for CJSW, donated by some fantastic folks. Musically, I did the same thing I did on the Breaking The Tethers Funding Drive show; I picked a selection of great tracks that I had played on Alternative To What shows I had filled in on since the 2023 Drive (my fave track: “Satanic immersion in goat piss” by Human Agony from Goring Christ). Feel free to take in this show at shorturl.at/sTFYH.

Thanks.

Andrew

October 28, 2024

October 2024 ends with a show with more tracks played than average (10) and no tracks that were older than 2010 (though this wasn’t an “all-new” program, something I do occasionally). It’s a good listen; check it out at this place.

Thanks.

Andrew

October 21, 2024

This was the Breaking The Tethers show for the 2024 CJSW Funding Drive, the 19th I have done. As in past years, I played some fave tunes that were featured on BTT since the last Drive and a bunch of money was raised. Many thanks to everyone who donated on my show and everyone who donated to CJSW as a whole. Did the whole thing here.

Thanks.

Andrew

December 23, 2024

This was the Christmas Eve Eve Breaking The Tethers episode and a crazy show it was. About 2/3 of the program was regular BTT fare while the rest could be best described as “Christmas weirdness”. Some notes on this episode:

*The first track played was “The third season” by Hank Mobley from the album Third season. Aside from maybe one time, I don’t think I’ve played any Mobley for 15+ years. Bad, I know.

*There was a bit of a G theme. I played a track called “Gould”, a track called “Groon”, and a track called “Gloop”. 

*The late, great Wesley Willis made an appearance, singing his original song “Merry Christmas”, from the  classic record Rock ‘n’ roll will never die.

*As happens on BTT every year around Christmas, the sound collage “Merry fucking Christmas” was played. Also as happens every year, “Merry fucking Christmas” freaked out some listeners (but in a good way!)

Thanks.

Andrew

December 30, 2024

2024 came to an end with a Breaking The Tethers show featuring only 5 tracks (normally, I play 7-9 bits of music, sometimes more). The main reason for this is because I started the program by playing the 20-minute-plus long “Your good lies” by Tyshawn Sorey, from his 2024 album The susceptible now. I had this track on my “to play” list for a fair chunk of the year; it was good to be able to finally get it on air. You can listen to this piece and the other tracks played here.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 6, 2024

As with the December 30 show, I began BTT 2025 show number one by playing a long tune, about 26 minutes in length. The track was “Creation” by John Coltrane, a somewhat wild affair recorded live in 1965 (and maybe only played on stage once). Bookending things with big names in jazz, the last track I played in this program was “Black satin” by Miles Davis, from the 1973 album On the corner (I suspect that “Black satin” is the most-played jazz piece on CJSW). In between, there was plenty of other good musical things featured. You can take it all in here.

BTT 2025 show number two will be on Monday, January 13, usual time, usual place (10 to 11 am MT, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM). Please join me if you can!

That being said, you can also join me for a different show on Thursday, January 9. I’ll be doing a fill-in on Alternative To What from 4 to 6 pm MT (again, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM). Should be fun!

Thanks.

Andrew