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In A Mellow Tone
Join your hosts Natalie McGrath, Ian Mackenzie, Heavy Ben and/or Ron Steeds & Jim Reil for 2 hours of great jazz.
Hosted by: Heavy Ben, Natalie McGrath and Ian Mackenzie
Airs: Every Wednesday from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM

Coming up at 9:00 PM on December 31st, 2025:
Heavy Ben's "Under The Radar" explores jazz records that got little-to-no attention. What did jazz sound like in 2025?

In A Mellow Tone

Date Host Highlight On Demand
Dec. 24, 2025 Ian M A Wintry Seasonal Mix
available
Dec. 17, 2025 Ian M Celebrating Carla Bley and her last commissioned composition for Arturo O'Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
available
Dec. 10, 2025 Ron Steeds & Jim Reil The Knitting Factory Recordings Of The Thomas Chapin Trio
available
Dec. 3, 2025 Heavy Ben Vinyl Sides 12 - Duke Ellington, Walter Boudreau, Elizabeth Shepherd, Roger Simard, Makaya McCraven
available
Nov. 26, 2025 Jim Reil and Ron Steeds Two hours with the brilliant and astonishingly prolific composer and musician John Zorn.
available
Nov. 19, 2025 Ian M Oscar Peterson's Centenary - conversations with two who played with him: Dave Young and Lorne Lofsky
available

IN A MELLOW TONE INTRODUCES LISTENERS TO THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF JAZZ, FROM ITS BEGINNINGS TO THE LATEST INNOVATIONS. THE HOSTS DRAW ON THEIR LARGE PERSONAL CD AND LP COLLECTIONS TO SUPPLEMENT CKCU'S EXTENSIVE RESOURCES.

IN A MELLOW TONE was created and hosted by Ron Sweetman until he retired from radio in Septermber 2015. The program has been a weekly fixture on CKCU-FM 93.1 since May 1976. He was a founder member of L’Atelier de Musique Experimentale (1972), Jazz Ottawa (1976), and Music Now (1997). He wrote for CODA magazine and was a member of the Down Beat International Critics Poll.

IN A MELLOW TONE is now hosted by a rotating collective of jazz zealots including Natalie McGrath,  Heavy Ben, Ian M. and Ron Steeds & Jim Reil, plus occasional guest hosts. They intend on taking IAMT forward with the high standards of broadcasting that Ron Sweetman established for decades.

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