August 6, 2026 - Alternative To What?

Once again, I was very willingly drafted in to temporarily host Alternative To What this week. Kerry was away (probably at some sort of Folk Fest thing 😆) so I filled in and, as always, was very glad to do so. I went to a lot of musical ports in this show; here's some words to describe where I went: Canada (much of the music was by Canadian artists); new (most of the tunes were newly released or re-released); not loud (no metal this time - next time!); prog (Yes and Max Webster); India (Araina Kim and Amrita); and more. You can listen to the whole kit and kaboodle here.

I'll be returning to Alternative To What fairly soon, on Thursday, August 6. Please join me if you can. Things will be starting at 4 pm MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. In the meantime, I'll still be doing my regular program, Breaking The Tethers, every Monday morning. Same station, CJSW, same coordinates. BTT begins at 10 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

July 20, 2026

The main labels on this program were "new" and "Canadian". Most of the tunes played were new releases and by Canadian artists, all fine stuff. That being said, perhaps both my fave tracks were neither new or Canadian (well, one of these was a reissue). These were:

"Upper Egypt & Lower Egypt" by Pharoah Sanders and Sonny Sharrock, recorded live in 1993. Great playing on a classic avant jazz tune.

"Iapetus" by Hadley Caliman from the 1971 album of the same title, named after a moon of Saturn. A tenor sax player that I'd never heard of before (or had forgotten). I've glad to have heard him now.

You can listen to these and everything else here. 

There'll be more BTT at CJSW in a week, on Monday, July 27. Tune in starting at 10 am MT. Go to cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

But I'll on air again sooner than that! I'll be guest-hosting Alternative To What on CJSW on Thursday, July 23. Please join me from 4 to 6 pm MT that day, same station coordinates.

Thanks.

Andrew

July 13, 2026

Mostly new, a few old. That pretty much describes this episode of Breaking The Tethers. There was also a nice variety of sounds and instrumentation. Not much more to say than that. I'd recommend giving it a listen and you can do that here. 

And you can also listen to next week's program! The date will be Monday, July 20. The time will be 10 am MT. The radio station coordinates will be cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

July 6, 2026

The three weeks of celebration for the 20th birthday of Breaking The Tethers comes to an end and we're back this week with a usual sorta BTT show (go here to listen). Mostly it was just music and me rambling a bit between the tunes but also, there was an interview. I was joined by Christophe Magnan-Bossé from the group Greenhouse Ensemble. We talked about the band and their new album, Mezzanine. We concluded by playing a track from Mezzanine, "Variations sur une turlute". Many thanks to Christophe for joining me!

There'll be more "regular" Breaking The Tethers on Monday, July 13. Tune in from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

June 29, 2026

The three weeks of celebration for the 20th anniversary of Breaking The Tethers comes to a close with this episode. While I very much liked the music featured in the previous two shows, I think I liked this one best. I'd make a list of my faves here but it would basically be the tracklist for the program! Anyway, be sure to check it out.

We're back to a "regular" BTT show next week. Please tune in from 10 to 11 am MT at 90.9 FM or cjsw.com. 

Thanks.

Andrew

June 22, 2016

Welcome to the second of three Breaking The Tethers shows in celebration of 20 years of the program. If memory serves, BTT started on Tuesday, June 20, 2006 though I'm not 100% sure. At any rate, June 22, 2026 is probably the closest to an exact 20th anniversary day that there is going to be. Musically, like the June 15 program, this episode featured a bunch of "hits" from BTT past; basically, some favourite tracks of mine that have been featured on the show. This week, my fave of faves was "Out-bloody-rageous" by Soft Machine, the version from the Third album. I may not have actually played this exact piece for almost 20 years (I think I played it in summer or fall 2006); I've played no small amount of Soft Machine in the years since and I've played different versions of "Out-bloody-rageous" by Soft Machine but not this exact one. You can listen to "Out-bloody-rageous" and more from this program here.

The 20th anniversary musical celebration comes to an end with the next BTT show, on Monday, June 29, from 10 to 11 am MT. Come sit in with me at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

June 15, 2026

This was the first of three shows in celebration of the (first) 20 years of Breaking The Tethers, featuring a selection of my fave tracks (and hopefully listeners' faves as well) played on BTT over the years. Some of these tunes have been played off and on over the years, some haven't been played for ages. The latter would include the first track in this program, "Song of the Underground Railroad" by John Coltrane, from The complete Africa/Brass sessions. This actually the first piece of music played on BTT in June 2006 and I don't think I've played it since! The whole show is here. 

The second celebratory BTT event will take place next week, on Monday, June 22, from 10 to 11 am MT. Go to cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. Fine music will be featured.

Thanks.

Andrew