February 18, 2019

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20190218

This was my first program back after a week away (I went to Edmonton).  I thought this was a solid show.  I ended up playing a bit more new material than I expected but I still took a couple of trips into the past, including playing some Art Blakey and The Messengers from 1958.

On that note, I could only put in the main title for the Blakey piece that was played so here's the full name:

The drum thunder suite
First theme: drum thunder
Second theme: Cry a blue tear
Third theme: Harlem's disciples


I also did a bad thing and forgot to thank Linda Cunningham on air for hosting the show on Monday\, February 11. So, many thanks, Linda!

Next week's edition of Breaking The Tethers, on Monday, February 25, 10-11 am MT. 90.9 FM, cjsw.com, will likely be much like this one. That is, music you could call jazz, some old, some new, different styles, different lengths, etc.

Andrew

February 11, 2019

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20190211

I was away for this episode so regular guest host Linda Cunningham took the reins of BTT and did her usual fab job!  Definitely a nifty batch of tunes played. Many thanks to Linda!

I'll be back for the Family Day show on February 18, usual time, usual place (10-11 am MT, 90.9 FM or cjsw.com)

Andrew

February 4, 2019

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20190204

On a freezing cold Calgary day, after a few weeks of "all-new" shows, I went back to the more usual format for Breaking The Tethers, playing a mix of older and newer material. We ended up hearing  some good stuff; epic-style jazz (Kamasi Washington), avant-garde (Dave Holland), Christmas soul-jazz crossed with Dave Brubeck (B3 Kings), piano trio + strings (Danny Green Trio), and more.

The next BTT program will be on Monday, February 11, 10-11 am MT, 90.9 FM or cjsw.com.  But I won't be there.  I'm out-of-town that day so regular guest host, Linda Cunningham, will be filling in. Please join Linda for what will be a great show.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 28, 2018

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20190128/

This was another "all-new" edition of Breaking The Tethers, the last such show for a while.  For the next program, on Monday, February 4 (10-11 am MT, 90.9 FM or cjsw.com), I'll go back to the more usual format of BTT and play a mix of old and new material. Anyway, here's a few notes from this week's program:

*I fit in two John Coltrane pieces, "Alabama" and "Your lady", which is always a good thing. Both originally appeared on Coltrane's Live at Birdland release but were recently re-released as part of the 1963: new directions package.

*I very much liked the cover of the Beatles' "Julia" by GADAU, especially the distinctive vocals.

*It was kind of "difficult word day" on Breaking The Tethers. Two alone could have tripped me up, "Chemiluminescence" (by Adam Hopkins) and "Quintessence" (by Jazzlab Orchestra), but I managed to get them out clean, more than once.  Sometimes, it's the simple (or simpler) words that twist my tongue in knots.

Andrew

January 21, 2019

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20190121/

This was a mellower show than usual or, at least, it had a less avant/out there vibe than usual. Heck, it even had a vocal track ("Never let it go" by Andrea Superstein), a somewhat rare thing for BTT.  Maybe the main feature of the program was the beginning and end-of-show Brad Mehldau bookends. 

Oh, also, it was an "all-new" show.  Next week's edition will be the same. I plan to head back to playing material from a variety of periods in February.

On the subject of next week, Breaking The Tethers will be back on air on Monday, January 28, 10-11 am MT, 90.9 FM or cjsw.com. Please join me.  Everyone is welcome!

Andrew

December 10, 2018

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20181210

There was definitely some nifty music played in the Dec. 10 BTT episode ("How to walk in freedom" by Marc Ribot & company; I love the last section of this song) but the most interesting point for me is that I played 12 tracks in an hour.  This is hard to do when playing jazz; normally, I fit in somewhere around nine pieces of music in 60 minutes.  I'm not sure if 12 is the record but it's up there.

Andrew

December 3, 2018

https://cjsw.com/program/breaking-the-tethers/episode/20181203

I dug everything played on this program though, looking back, four tracks stand out:

"Delice karma/Karmic delights" by Forgas Band Phenomena from L'oreille electrique - Maybe my favourite song from my favourite 2018 release.

"Probability wave #1/HUP" by The Uncertainty Principle from Live at the Rex - Physics in jazz, with a discussion of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

"A letter to mom" by The Cosmic Twins from The waterbearers - A discovery from 1974. A great drums and piano piece.

"El Barrio" by Joe Henderson from Inner urge - I've been listening to a fair amount of Joe Henderson recently.  Always good.

Andrew