December 1, 2025

The first day of the ultimate month of 2025 brings us a very spacey edition of Breaking The Tethers. The sounds hold together well as an astral kind of thing. My fave track this week: "Mars", written by John Coltrane and covered by Nels Cline and Gregg Bendian on Interstellar space revisited. Awesome noise. Check it all out at these coordinates.

Will the next BTT show be as spacey? Or different in some other way? Find out with me on Monday, December 8, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

CJSW Funding Drive 2024 and Breaking The Tethers - What's on the mix?!

During this year's CJSW Funding Drive, when you donate at the $35 level or higher, you can pick up a special mix of music from a CJSW program, including for my show, Breaking The Tethers. Here's what's on the BTT mix (artist, song, album):

Albert "Tootie" Heath - "Kawaida" (Kawaida)

Amnesiac Quartet - "Bloom" (Tribute to Radiohead, vol. 2)

Chris Mondak - "Skunk funk" (Blank with colour)

D.D. Jackson - "Daylight shooting in Little Italy" (Poetry project)

Disaster Pony - "Hot like bugs" (Disaster pony)

Freddie Hubbard - "First light" (First light)

Howard Moody/John Surman - "Dancing in the loft" (Rain on the window)

I.P.A. - "Grimsta" (Grimsta)

Juan Perea - "Tyner tune" (Lightkeeper)

Kamasi Washington - "The magnificent 7" (The epic)

Larry Young - "Mother ship" (Mother ship)

NO HAY BANDA & Steven Takasugi - "Il Teatro Rosso, scene II - the spasms of trapped animals" (Il Teatro Rosso)

Steve Lehman - "34a" (The music of Anthony Braxton)

These tracks were played on Breaking The Tethers, most, if not all, within the past year, since the last Funding Drive in 2024.

If you'd like to donate, please go to cjsw.com/donate or call 403-220-5000.

Thanks!

Andrew

CJSW Funding Drive 2024 and Breaking The Tethers

Once again, it's Funding Drive time for CJSW, Calgary's campus and community radio station. This is vital time for CJSW, when we call upon our awesome listeners for their support. 

Here's the basic information about the Drive this year:

*The Drive runs from Friday, October 17 through Friday, October 24 (ending at 6 pm that day).

*The theme is Play/Connect/Discover:

*The goal is $200,000.

*You can donate online at cjsw.com/donate or by calling 403-220-5000.

*While any level of donation is welcome, there are various incentives at different levels; see here.

*Individual CJSW programs also have show-specific incentives. These are in addition to the station-level stuff and will vary from show to show. 

*There are payment options available, including monthly payments.

Looking more specifically at Breaking The Tethers, the BTT 2025 Funding Drive show will take place on Monday, October 20, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. This is the 20th FD show for BTT! As this is the 20th and the program will take place on the 20th, for fundraising, I have a goal I'm calling 20-200-2000:

*A minimum of $20 raised. I think we can get there 😀.

*Next level up is $200. I suspect we can reach this level as well.

*The top level that I'd like to hit is $2000. BTT has been in this territory in the past a few times but not for a number of years. I'm hoping we can remedy this in 2025!

There will also be a special Breaking The Tethers musical mix available at the $35 donation level. This is made up of a bunch of awesome tunes that were all featured on BTT episodes. I'll post a tracklist for the mix later today.

I'll also have some show-specific incentives, including some great jazz and jazz-adjacent CDs. These include:

Eric Alexander - Timing is everything

Vanish Gould - She's not shiny, she's not smooth

Brother Jack McDuff - Ain't no sunshine

Vincente Arthur - Short stories

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Celestial suite

Dwarfs of East Agouza - Sasquatch landslide

There may be other (non-CD) BTT incentives available (you'll need to listen in to find out!)

I'll also be appearing on another fine CJSW program during Funding Drive, Alternative To What? I occasionally fill in on ATW and regular host Kerry Clarke has kindly invited me to join her for the 2025 Drive edition of ATW. We'll be on air on Thursday, October 23, from 4 to 6 pm, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

That's all! Many thanks.

Andrew

 

October 13, 2025

"New and varied" is what I said was the theme of BTT this week. There were only a few dips into the past and rest of the material were new releases. My fave pieces from were probably these three, played in a row (more or less):

"Il se passe des choses (instrumental)" by Brigette Fontaine, from Brigette Fontaine est folle (see, I like melodic stuff!)

"Saber tooth millipede" by the Dwarfs of East Agouza, from Sasquatch landslide (an awesome title for an awesome album)

"Minor escapade" by Danny Thompson, from Whatever (the first solo album by the recently-departed bass great)

The podcast for this show is here. Give it a listen.

Breaking The Tethers will be on next week, on Monday, October 20, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. However, it won't be a usual sort of show; it's going to be the annual Funding Drive Breaking The Tethers program! CJSW Funding Drive 2025 begins on Friday, October 17 (and runs through Friday, October 24). The BTT FD show will feature some great tunes and good talk. As this is my 20th funding drive and the show takes place on the 20th, in terms of fundraising, I'm aiming for 20-200-2000:

*A minimum of $20 raised. I think we can get there 😀.

*Next level up is $200. I suspect we can reach this level as well.

*The top level that I'd like to hit is $2000. BTT has been in this territory in the past a few times but not for a number of years. I'm hoping we can remedy this in 2025!

Anyway, more information about the Funding Drive will be coming soon on this blog. If you want to get a head start on donating, please go here.

I'm also going to be appearing with Kerry Clarke on the FD edition of her fine show, Alternative To What, which I sometimes guest host. That'll be on Thursday, October 21, from 4 to 6 pm, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. 

Thanks.

Andrew

October 6, 2025

This BTT episode started with a big soul-jazz groove ("Delilah" by Mike LeDonne's Groover Quartet from Turn it up!) then most of the rest of the proceedings headed into the sonic orbit. I dig the freak outs and there was definitely some of that in this show. What was the wildest thing? Probably "Monoceros 2" by Evan Parker from the Monoceros album (at some point in the not-too-distant future, I will play "Monoceros 4" from the same record). Check it all out and get weird here.

The next BTT show will be Monday, October 13, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. This will be the last "regular" show for a couple of weeks as the annual CJSW Funding Drive is beginning soon. The Drive will run from Friday, October 17 through Friday, October 24. The Breaking The Tethers Funding Drive show will be on Monday, October 20, usual time, usual place. This show, which will be my 20th CJSW Funding Drive program, should be lots of fun and hopefully will raise much money for the station. If you'd like to get a jump on donating, you can do that here. I'll have more on the Drive and BTT soon. 

Oh, I should also note that I'll be hanging out with Kerry Clarke on the FD version of her show, Alternative To What, on Thursday, October 23, from 4 to 6 pm MT, cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. More on this later, too.

Thanks.

Andrew

September 29, 2025

The main feature of this show was the version of “Slightly all the time” by Soft Bounds. Soft Bounds was one of the alternative/follow-up bands to Soft Machine after Soft Machine broke up. Last week, I played a track from Soft Works so I figured I would play another track from a similar group this week (there were a number of other similar bands e.g. Soft Heap, Soft Ware, Soft Mountain, Soft Head, Soft Machine Legacy). The Soft Bounds was good and long (almost half an hour) which left only a bit of time for a few other fine tracks. It’s here for the listening. 

The next BTT episode will be on Monday, October 6 (we’re into October, already!) at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT. Please join me!

Thanks.

Andrew

PS I mention the upcoming CJSW 2025 Funding Drive, which is taking place from October 17 through 24th…

September 25, 2025 - Alternative To What?

Howdy. I was called back to duty on Alternative To What again this week. Many thanks to ATW host Kerry Clarke for letting me run amok on her show once again, which I kinda did. Here's a word salad sample of what appeared in this show: The MC5, English folk on sitar, English folk rock, a bunch of death/black metal, Froggie Went A-Courtin', A Love Supreme, 70s prog, and much, much more. This is the kind of crazy I aspire to when I host Alternative To What. I think you should listen to this episode and you can do that here.

Thanks.

Andrew

PS Coming up soon, the annual CJSW Funding Drive, running from October 17th through 24th...

September 22, 2025

On the page on the CJSW site for this edition of BTT (see here; you can listen to a recording of the program at this spot), I described this show as having more tracks than usual (11), especially for a jazz (ostensibly) program, of which some were weird and some were not. That sums it up well, I think.

Thanks.

Andrew

PS ...CJSW Funding Drive 2025... October 17-24...

September 15, 2025

The podcast of this episode is available here. Musically, it was mostly newly-released items (one of the two older tracks was "Free above the sea" by Jack DeJohnette from the Oneness album, released in 1997; I hadn't played anything from solo DeJohnette in ages). The main element of the show was an interview with Aimee-Jo Benoit and Lisa Buck from BuckingJam Palace (buckingjampalace.com) about the upcoming Chocolate Box #1 event. Many thanks to Aimee-Jo and Lisa from joining me.

Thanks.

Andrew

September 8, 2025

Lotsa new jams this week, with just a couple of trips into the past (Turtleboy and Vijay Iyer Trio). My fave piece was probably the first track played, "Go lonely woman" by Chris Smith, from the Jazz grunge album; it's a mix-up of "Go" by Pearl Jam and "Lonely woman" by Ornette Coleman and it works pretty good. You can take in this song and everything else played here.

Thanks.

Andrew

September 11, 2025 - Alternative To What?

As I sometimes do, I got behind the wheel at Alternative To What this week. It's always a pleasure hosting this show. As I always do when I'm there, I played loads of music (and less musical things e.g. recordings of numbers stations) from here, there, and everywhere, 18 tracks in all, long and short. Take it all in here.

I'm also going to be hosting ATW on Thursday, September 25. Again, I'm much looking forward to it. You can join me for more musical mayhem from 4 to 6 pm MT that day, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

And, of course, I'll be sticking with my regular gig, Breaking The Tethers, which will be on next on Monday, September 29, 10 to 11 am MT, same place as ATW.

Thanks.

Andrew

PS ...CJSW Funding Drive 2025... October 17-24...

July 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25

As a result of long vacation plus sickness and getting stuck in the Air Canada strike, I was away from Breaking The Tethers for five episodes in July and August. There were three guest hosts (Red on July 28, Dylan on August 4, 11, and 18, and Abbas on August 25) who all produced interesting shows. Many, many thanks to them! Here are links to each of the programs:

July 28

August 4

August 11

August 18

August 25

Thanks.

Andrew

September 1, 2025

Well, I returned to Breaking The Tethers for this show. I was away for a month, on a big vacation, which was great, followed by getting trapped by the Air Canada strike. But I got back for this show, which I think featured loads of great music. There was definitely a lean to the out-there side of jazz but there was also no shortage of musical variation. You can listen to it all here.

I'd like to pass on many thanks to Red, Dylan, and Abbas who filled in for me on BTT while I was gone. I'll do a longer post about their programs soon but, in the meantime, I'll say their guest-hosting is much appreciated!

September 8 brings the next episode of Breaking The Tethers. I will be there. Please join me from 10 to 11 am MT that day at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

PS I'll also be hosting Alternative To What on Thursday, September 11, from 4 to 6 pm. More about that later.

July 21, 2025

Only a five-song show this week but that’s no problem; all the music played was fine stuff. A main element was a mini guitar legend tribute with “Fred” by the New Tony Williams Lifetime featuring the late, great Allan Holdsworth and “Three flights up” by Pat Metheny featuring, well, Pat Metheny (who is not dead). Also, as I type, I realized that there were two songs about “flights” (presumably building stories) , the Metheny tune and “One flight down” by Cory Weeds and Jerry Weldon. This didn’t even cross my mind as I was hosting BTT live. Oh well. Anyway, listen to this “fine stuff” program here. 

As noted earlier, I will be away (on vacation!) for the next four episodes of Breaking The Tethers. Next week’s show, on Monday, July 28, will be hosted by Red. Please join them for a great suite of music from 10 to 11 am at 90.9 FM or cjsw.com.

Thanks.

Andrew

July 14, 2025

As is usually the case, I planned to present a show that featured a mix of old and new material. However, I left the “old” stuff at home accidentally so, I figured, why not, lets do an “all-new” BTT episode. And that’s what we had. Nine new releases and one re-release, all over the musical map. There was weirdo jazz-rock (“Pine trees of Tennessee” by Skullcap), NOLA brass band (“North Philly’s finest” by Heavyweights Brass Band), 70s jazz-rock-funk (“Slop jar” by Charles Kynard), a tap piece (“Ko-ko” by the DIVA Jazz Orchestra), Miles Davis done by Indian flute and acoustic guitar (“All blues” by Nolasia), and jazz grunge (or grunge jazz?) (“Elderly woman behind the counter in a small town” by Chris Smith). You can listen to all of this fine music at shorturl.at/KesUt.

The next show (for me - more on this below) will be Monday, July 21, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. It will be good. Join me if you can.

OK, here’s the news. The July 21 program will be my last BTT episode for the next four weeks. I’m going on a long vacation. I’ll be back for the August 25 show. In the meantime, the four programs in between will have guest hosts. I’m not yet sure who will be hosting BTT while I am away (it’ll probably be a few folks) but I’ll post about this when I know.

 

Thanks.

Andrew

July 7, 2025

This week, some old, some new, nothing too heavy (though there was some kinda heavy stuff 😁). Just a good show and a nice mix. Can I say anything more? Nope. That pretty much covers us. You can give a listen (or a re-listen) to the program here.

Andrew

June 30, 2025

And we come to the last day of June and the exact middle of the year (counting by month, not by day). This was an odd show of sorts in that only five tunes were played and most of them were tracks that had been on my "to play on BTT sometime" list for quite some time. I guess I just needed to clear some stuff off the deck, so to speak. The one piece that did not fall into this category was "Homunculus" by Passport. A long-lasting German jazz-rock group, I had heard of Passport but, for some reason, I never listened to any of their music until earlier this year. Now that I'm catching up on them, I figured it would appropriate to play something from them. The track comes from Passport's 5th studio album, Cross-collateral, which came out in 1975. You can dig the whole BTT show here. 

The first Breaking The Tethers program in July 2025 will be on Monday, July 7, starting at 10 am MT and ending one hour later. Go to cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. 

I haven't mentioned this on air yet but I'll make note of it here. I will be away for four shows this summer: July 28, August 4, August 11, and August 18 (all Mondays, of course). I'll be back on air on Monday August 26. I'm not yet sure who will be filling on for me on those dates but I'm sure they will do a great job so be sure to tune in!

Thanks.

Andrew

June 23, 2025

I thought this one was a good example of a Breaking The Tethers episode. A nice mix of old and new, various styles while still leaning a bit to the outside, and a fair number of tracks played in one hour (I always try to squeeze in as much music as possible!). Enough said! Well, almost! You can listen to this "type specimen" show here.

The next show after this: Monday, June 30, 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

June 16, 2025

This was the one week-delayed "brotherhood" show part 2. What made it a brotherhood show was, like brotherhood show part 1 (June 2), it started with a tune from a band with the word "brotherhood" in their name. On June 2, it was the Brotherhood Consort while this week, it was the Brotherhood of Breath. Here's a few notes about the Brotherhood of Breath tune:

*It went over 30 minutes, stretching to around 35 minutes. Playing a track so long on a one-hour program meant that not too much else was featured on the show, only three other pieces. This might have been the BTT episode, in its 60 minute iteration, with the least number of songs played. There'll be more stuff played next week.

*I picked up this track from a bootleg (shhh!). All it indicated was that the piece was called "Track 2". After doing a bit of research, it looks like the concert was legit released as the album Eclipse at dawn. There are individual tracks noted on this recording. My guess is that what makes up "Track 2" are these pieces:

"Eclipse at dawn"

"The bride"

"Now" 

"Funky boots march"

You can listen to this full edition of Breaking The Tethers here. 

You can also join me next week for more BTT, on Monday, June 23, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM. No "brotherhood" (probably) but plenty of other words, thoughts, and sounds.

Thanks.

Andrew

June 9, 2025

Brotherhood show part 2 was supposed to take place here but, due to circumstances, I had to move that to June 16. So, the June 9 program just ended up being a regular sorta BTT show. Nothing wrong with that. We had old and new stuff, long and short, different styles. My fave track this week? Probably "Venus/Upper Epgypt" by the Sonny Sharrock Band, off the Highlife album. I don't play enough Sonny Sharrock. I must play more Sonny Sharrock 😄. Anyway, here's where you can listen to the whole program: shorturl.at/OhlB4

Please join me for more Breaking The Tethers on Monday, June 16 (brotherhood!), 10 to 11 am MT, at 90.9 FM or cjsw.com.

Thanks. 

Andrew

June 5, 2025 - Alternative To What?

Once again this spring, Alternative To What host Kerry Clarke called me in to guest-host her show (many thanks, Kery!). As always on ATW, I played loads of tracks, 19 tracks, from many different styles/genres (ambio-folk-jazz-metal-funk? that doesn't come close to doing it justice!), both new and older. Not much more to be said except "Listen to the show!"; you can do that here.

There's no more episodes of Alternative To What schedule for me but I will be back on my regular gig, hosting Breaking The Tethers, on Monday, June 9, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM

Thanks.

Andrew

June 2, 2025

This edition of Breaking The Tethers was what I called Brotherhood show, week 1. Brotherhood as a concept is great but, in this case, all it meant was that I was starting this program and the next with music from a band with Brotherhood in the title. This week, it was "Selflessness", a John Coltrane tune, performed by the Brotherhood Consort in Paris, France, in 2008, You can listen to this and the rest of the show here.

Next week, find out about the second Brotherhood show. Join me on Monday, June 9, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

May 26, 2025

I didn't plan to make this an "all-new" show and it wasn't but it ended up being close. 10 tracks played (which is a few more than usual), of which seven were new releases. The last six in a row were all new , something I didn't plan but noticed afterwards. The music all fit together well so definitely no harm done! You can give a listen to this program right here.

Time is zipping by and the first edition of BTT in June is coming up soon. Please join me on Monday, June 2, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM, from 10 to 11 am MT.

Thanks.

Andrew

May 22, 2025 - Alternative To What?

This was the second of two Alternative To What shows that I guest-hosted. This one was probably more varied that its predecessor, on May 15. Among other things, in no particular order, there was big band, meditative music, ambient, solo drums, metal, hippie rock, folk rock, and no shortage of crazy/weirdo songs. You can check it all out here.

No more ATW programs for me for a while I carry on with my regular show, Breaking The Tethers. As of writing, the next one is on Monday, June 2, from 10 to 11 am MT, at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM.

Thanks.

Andrew

May 19, 2025

Breaking The Tethers last week was an "all new" program, something I hadn't done for quite some time (maybe 2024?). This week was a return to the usual form, a mix of old and new, with the regular jumble of  musical styles under the broad jazz umbrella. Not much else to say that it was a good show, well worth listening to, here. Oh, I will mention my fave track title from this week, "Yes! Ramen!! by Hiromi from the album Out there.

Monday, May 26 is the date for the next BTT show. Please tune in with me from 10 to 11 am MT at cjsw.com or 90.9 FM

I am also guest-hosting Alternative To What on Thursday, May 22, 4 to 6 pm, same place. Please join me then, too.

Thanks

Andrew

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