
This week, CKUA is launching Residency. This new hour-long program features fresh multi-genre programming from new voices and special guests. It follows the Friday Night Blues Party, airing midnight – 1am MT on Saturdays.
Content Director Arianne Smith-Piquette says, “Residency is a launchpad for up-and-coming hosts to develop a program and share their unique voice and perspective with the CKUA audience. Each residency will last six weeks, and we’d love to hear your feedback. You can get in touch at feedback@ckua.com. We’re very excited to share new voices and perspectives on CKUA!”
The first host of Residency is Jeff Kynoch, a sound engineer and producer based in Calgary. His experience in the music industry is extensive, but hosting a radio program is new for him.
“I’ve been a daily listener for years, and I followed along with different CKUA programs,” says Kynoch. He used to manage Blackbyrd Music in Calgary, and says, “I never really thought about doing radio until some CKUA people came in, including David Ward. We’d always chat about records and music.”
Kynoch says that Ward took note of his eclectic taste in music, and his focus on modern jazz. “David put the bug in my ear about putting together a show demo, a modern take on jazz and where it is headed.”
Gathering restrictions during COVID meant that the plans to submit a demo and put himself out there as a radio host were put on hold for a while. Now Kynoch feels ready, even though he says he’s sad that the person who encouraged him most, David Ward, passed away in 2022.
Kynoch will focus on jazz when he’s in the host chair for CKUA. “CKUA has two fantastic jazz programs that are awesome and diverse in their approach, and I thought maybe I could add some other styles of jazz into the mix.” Kynoch says new music and emergent musicians will be his focus.
“I’d like to bridge the gap between modern jazz and other music. I want to present music in a way that is comfortable and appealing for people who might not be jazz fans yet. Even if jazz isn’t your favourite, so much beautiful music is being made right now. There’s music that is off the beaten path that deserves to be heard. If people have the chance to hear it, they might fall in love with it.”
And, he adds, “It’s been fun, selecting music and getting to nerd out.”
Tune in for Residency, starting Saturday, November 30, midnight – 1am MT.