February 2, 2026

Apart from a few newly-released songs played at the end of the program, this main event for this show was a tribute to the Man From Saturn, Sun Ra, inspired by the album My words are music: a celebration of Sun Ra’s poetry. Here’s what was played: Two Sun Ra pieces, one solo piano, one full band; five poems, and two short interludes (played on EVI by 101 year-old Arkestra bandleader, Marshall Allen). It was all fine stuff. Listen to it here.

I’ll be back with more BTT soon, on Monday, February 9, 10 to 11 am MT, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. If you can, please join me.

You can also join me on Thursday, February 5, when I guest-host Alternative To What on CJSW. Regular host Kerry Clarke is away so I will be doing my thing in her stead. Tune in from 4 to 6 pm MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

January 26, 2026

Only four tracks this week, mostly crazy stuff . The first two played this week were particularly nuts. These were "Septober energy pt. 1" from Centipede (50+ people in the band!) and "My friend, blood is shaking my heart" by Masayuki Takyanagi, which was totally bonkers. On a mellower note, I also played a jazzy version of the Grateful Dead's "The music never stopped", co-written by Dead guitarist Bob Weir, who passed away earlier this month.

February 2026 rolls around with the next BTT program, on Monday, February 2, 2026. Come hang with me at 90.9 FM or cjsw.com, starting at 10 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

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