Topics

181

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Apr 8-14

« on: April 05, 2018, 0118 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, April 8-14:
April is Jazz Appreciation Month around the world, and we are going to celebrate by taking a look at some of the roots of modern Cuban Jazz in both Cuba and the United States. This week, we are going to dive into some of the epic Cuban Jam Session recordings made in the Panart (now Areito) studios in Havana in the 1950s.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This has been audible in parts of NW, Central and Southern Europe with an excellent skip to Italy recently.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Sunday, April 8
Episode 57 is a Polish Polka Party featuring the music of Frank Wojnarowski’s orchestras.
Sundays 2200-2230 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe.
In recent weeks the signal has had a nice bounce to Spain, Italy and Switzerland as well as Iceland, Ireland and parts of the UK. Also audible in Brasil, Paraguay and points North.

182

Shortwave Broadcast / Uncle Bill's Melting Pot To Add Broadcast For Europe

« on: April 05, 2018, 0116 UTC »

Good news for listeners in Europe:
Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, a program of world music (including Americana), novelty and comedy songs which currently airs on WBCQ 7490 on Sundays, is adding a transmission for Europe effective May 1.   This new transmission will air on Channel 292 Tuesdays from 2000-2030 UTC on 6070 Khz (right after From the Isle of Music on that frequency).

183

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, March 18-April 1

« on: March 14, 2018, 2347 UTC »

Here is a quick synopsis of our programs for the next three weeks:

From the Isle of Music, March 18-April 7
I. March 18-24: No interviews, rather a Cuban concert hall program of modern concert and experimental music
II. March 25-31: Ruly Herrera Sr. leader of Los Dan, one of Cuba’s most prominent Rock/Pop groups, is our special guest. We also listen to some current Cuban Rock.
III. April 1-7: Changüi and Folkloric Music. Our special guest is Changüi group Son del Guaso. We will listen to some of their music plus some other folkloric Cuban music.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This has been audible in parts of Ireland, the UK, Central and Southern Europe with an excellent skip to Italy recently.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.  UTC stays the same after the time change.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Sunday, March 18, March 25, April 1
I. March 18: Episode 54 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Psychedelic Brasil, takes a look at some of our favorite psychedelic groups in Brasil during the 1970s.
II. March 25: Episode 55, Serbian Kolo Party, is, well, lots of great Serbian Kolos. Dance if you can.
III. April 1: Episode 56, Silly Music for a Very Silly Day, is music to make you laugh on April Fools’ Day.
Sundays 2200-2230 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe
Note the UTC time change for A18, same local US time.
In recent weeks the signal has had a nice bounce to Spain, Italy and Switzerland as well as Iceland, Ireland and parts of the UK. Also audible in Brasil, Paraguay and points North. 

184

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, March 11-17

« on: March 07, 2018, 0515 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, March 11-17, 2018
No interviews this week, just a Cuban dance party from Son to Bolero to Música Popular Bailable. Note the UTC time change for WBCQ for the A18 season, the local time stays the same.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Sunday, March 11, 2018
Episode 53 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Not Necessarily Elvis, takes a look at some of the various international and US parodies of Mr. Presley.  Note the UTC time change for A18, same local time.
Sunday, March 11, 2200-2230 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

185

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle BIll's Melting Pot, Mar 4-10 and A18

« on: February 28, 2018, 0546 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, March 4-10, 2018
Part 2 of 2 parts
This week, Part 2 of our special guest, saxophonist/composer/bandleader Alexey León, 1st Place winner in the Interpretation category at JoJazz 2017. He already has a very impressive musical resume, and in one of our rare interviews in English, we’ll talk about his career to date and listen to some of his new album Cuban Connection, which also features other distinguished jazzistas such as Ivan Melon Lewis and Carlos Sarduy. We will also listen to some of Alexey’s first album Cuba Meets Russia, some of Carlos Sarduy’s first album Charly en la Habana, and a composition by Juan Almeida from the 1970s, Leningrado, a modern Cuban suite dedicated to the Russian defense of Leningrad in World War II.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on Space Line, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Sunday, March 4:  1st Anniversary Broadcast!
Episode 52 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, to celebrate the first anniversary of the program, will have a little bit of everything along with our mystery song for the week.
Sunday, March 4, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

A18 schedules for FTIOM and UBMP
1. FTIOM continues at the current days and UTC times from Channel 292 and Space Line, local times will change accordingly.     WBCQ will stay at current day and current local time (8-9pm Eastern Mondays) and UTC will change to Tuesdays 0000-0100.
2.   UBMP will continue Sundays 6-7pm Eastern and UTC will change to 2200-2300.  Watch for a new option for Europe in April.

 

186

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Feb 25-Mar 3

« on: February 21, 2018, 0115 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, February 25-March 3, 2018
Part 1 of 2 parts
This week and next, our special guest is saxophonist/composer/bandleader Alexey León, 1st Place winner in the Interpretation category at JoJazz 2017. He already has a very impressive musical resume, and in one of our rare interviews in English, we’ll talk about his career to date and listen to some of his new album Cuban Connection, which also features other distinguished jazzistas such as Ivan Melon Lewis and Carlos Sarduy.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Sunday, February 25
Episode 51 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot sends us to the Balkans for some hot Roma brass from Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Romania along with our mystery song for the week. We will also do a “hang” at our Facebook page so that you can chat with us during the show if you like.
Sunday, February 25, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

187

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Feb 18-24

« on: February 14, 2018, 1251 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, February 18-24, 2018
This week our special guest is Tony Avila, whose 2016 album Que se haga la luz is one of the most interesting Nueva Trova albums we have heard in many years. Also, some excellent Cuban Jazz.
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Sunday, February 18
Episode 50 of Uncle Bill's Melting Pot sends us to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (known as Zaire for a time) and back to the US for some US versions of African and Latin Soul.
Sunday, February 18, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

188

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Feb 11-17

« on: February 08, 2018, 0326 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, February 11-17, 2018
More of Alejandro Falcón and his new album Mi monte espiritual; also some great music from Yunior Terry, Yosvany Terry and Estrellas de Areito.
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.
From the Isle of Music is not available for listening on demand but some broadcasts can be heard online during the time of the broadcast using Web SDRs or the WBCQ website (during their broadcast) if you are not receiving the radio signal.

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Sunday, February 11
Episode 49 of Uncle Bill's Melting Pot sends us to Canada and Scotland with a slice of Swiss.
Sunday, February 11, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

 

189

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Feb 4-10

« on: February 02, 2018, 2353 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, February 4-10, 2018
For our second anniversary episode, our special guest will be singer/composer/guitarist William Vivanco. We will be conversing in English and Spanish as well as listening to some great music. Also, some Habana Abierta.
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Sunday, February 4, 2018
Episode 48 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot is a bit of this and a bit of that, but all good things.
Sunday,February 4, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

190

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Jan 28-Feb 3

« on: January 24, 2018, 1251 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, January 28-February 3, 2018
This week brings us a Cuban dance party.
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Sunday, January 28
Episode 47 of Uncle Bill's Melting Pot brings the Funk.
Sunday, January 28, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

191

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Jan 14-27

« on: January 10, 2018, 1146 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, January 14-20 and January 21-27:
January 14-20, our special guest is the award-winning Cuban jazzista Alejandro Falcón, who will talk to us about his new release Mi Monte Espiritual, and we will listen to a few selections from that album
January 21-27, in honor of Jazz Plaza, we will listen to a potpuorri of excellent Cuban Jazz from the 1970s until today
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, January 14 and 21, 2018
Episode 45 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, January 14, will be a bag of surprises, a little of this and that.
Episode 46 of Uncle BIll’s, Melting Pot, January 21, will focus on Albanian folk music. We promise it will be fun.
Sundays,
2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

192

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Jan 7-13

« on: January 03, 2018, 0223 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, January 7-13:
This week our special guest is rumbero/percussionist extraordinaire Jesús María Abreu Hernández of Los Papines, who will share some of their exciting new release Rumbeando a mi manera. We will also converse about the history of the group. Plus, a taste of Los Hermanos Arango, one of the most interesting Rumba/Jazz/Fusion groups in Cuba today
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, January 7, 2018
Hot and Cold
Episode 44 of Uncle Bill's Melting Pot will include some music to warm us up in this cold winter.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe
Reception reports are especially welcome right now due to WBCQ's recent transmitter fire.

193

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Dec 31-Jan 6

« on: December 27, 2017, 0024 UTC »

Happy New Year!
From the Isle of Music, December 31–January 6:
Happy New Year! We welcome the new year with a Cuban Dance Party with some of our favorite dance tunes from recent decades.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US). This is running on a backup transmitter due to a recent fire.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, December 31
Global New Years Party
Episode 43 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot will include some new year’s music from several different countries.
Sunday, December 31
2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe
Reception reports are especially welcome right now due to WBCQ’s recent transmitter fire.

194

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, December 24-30

« on: December 21, 2017, 0251 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, December 24–30:
This week, a potpourri of excellent albums from 2017 plus a touch of Cuban Christmas Jazz.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US) NOTE THAT UTC CHANGES BUT EASTERN US TIME IS STILL THE SAME.
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, December 24
If We’re Going to Hell, We Want Company…
Episode 42 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot will include some “XXXmas music” for people who can’t take any more Christmas music. That parental warning at the beginning of every show is real for this episode due to language in some of the songs. Fans of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation of the 1970s will also enjoy this.
Sunday, December 24
2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on  WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz  from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

The WBCQ transmissions are via a backup transmitter due to their recent fire, and any reception reports are therefore especially welcome.

195

Shortwave Broadcast / From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Dec 17-23

« on: December 13, 2017, 0411 UTC »

From the Isle of Music, December 17-23:
This week, our special guest is Cuban rock artist and producer David Blanco. We will listen to tracks from some of his albums plus an epic 18 minute jam from Anima Mundi, this year's Cubadisco winner in Rock.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US)
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, December 17
Brazilian Jazz, Part 1
Episode 41 of Uncle Bill's Melting Pot will be dedicated to some beautiful Brazilian Jazz. We'll revisit this theme a few times over the next year.
Sunday, December 17, 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on
WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz shortwave from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe