Bernie Brink
Jazz 93.5 Program Director & On-Air Host
A native of Colorado, Bernie Brink is an accomplished jazz pianist and has been performing and teaching music for over a decade. Bernie received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Colorado College, and his Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado. He has performed in several cities and groups across the U.S., and since returning to Colorado Springs has appeared with many local groups and musicians, including the Hennessy 6, and is currently forming his own groups.
“As a kid, I fell in love with jazz for its syncopation and rhythmic interest, as well as the rich harmony,” says Bernie. “As a practitioner, I love the sense of history and interconnectedness that is inherent in the music. It’s also very demanding in terms of musical understanding, knowing how all the various elements and permutations of melody, harmony, and rhythm fit together and interact. But the beauty is that this leads to a world of possibility on the bandstand and opens new modes of communication between musicians and listeners.”
Bernie is excited to share his understanding and passion with everyone at Jazz 93.5. He says, “I’m thrilled that Colorado Springs has a great jazz station now, Jazz 93.5 is among the best I’ve heard and they offer a great variety of music. It’s an excellent platform for listeners of all stripes to hook in and discover music that they love.”
You can listen to Bernie on Weekdays from 6-10am
Special Programs:
Sundays at 5pm: Off the Record
Mondays at 5pm: The Key Players
Tuesdays at 5pm: Happy Hour
Thursdays at 5pm: Colorado Jazz Connection
Chantil Dukart
On-Air Host
Chantil is a Native American jazz pianist and singer-songwriter. Her mother is from the Aleut and Tsimshian tribe of Alaska. Chantil studied jazz piano from a young age and graduated from the University of Miami in 2014. Chantil has performed all over the world including Miami, Fiji, Australia, Alaska and Key Largo.
Chantil's new album "Lady in the Champ" is scheduled for release on September 30th, 2022. It is a mix of jazz and rhythm and blues and features many great artists such as Adam Deitch and Benny Bloom (Lettuce), Isaac Teel (Tauk), and Parris Fleming (Harry Styles) among others.
Her favorite artists include Prince, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, RUFUS and Ravel. She has shared the stage with Jill Scott, Junius Bervine (keyboard player for Pharrell, D’Angelo Voodoo tour), and has opened for artists such as Rakim, Kelly Price, and Raheem Devaughan.
Listen for Chantil...
Sundays from 10am-2pm
Weekdays from 6-8pm
Great Ladies of Jazz program: Sundays at 6pm
Tony Exum Jr.
On-Air Host
Tony Exum Jr hails from Colorado Springs but was raised in Germany, Biloxi, Mississippi, New Orleans and Phoenix due to his military upbringing. Tony is a national recording artist in contemporary jazz, R&B & funk saxophone. He began playing the saxophone at the age of 11 and now has traveled all over the country playing with names such as Gerald Albright, Marcus Anderson.
Influenced by the likes of Grover Washington, Jr., Sanborn, Najee, Bird, Dexter Gordon among others, Tony began his professional career at 18 while attending Denver University’s Lamont School of Music.
He has several singles including his 2016 single Dance Close which is #36 on the listener chart and his collaboration with David P Stevens was #1 on the most added song of the week on Oct 3rd.
Radio began for Tony with occasional co-hosting on Denver’s KDKOradio.com, and KUHS radio jazz shows now a beloved Jazz 93.5 host every day of the week for the past 3 years!
Listen for Tony on Jazz 93.5...
Every weekday from 8pm-1am
Saturdays from 2-4 pm
Sundays from 2-4pm: New Generation of Smooth Jazz
Jeff Peckham
On-Air Host
Jeff was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1961. His family moved to Colorado Springs when he was two months old, so he is as close to a native as he could get. He went through school in District 11, graduating from Palmer High School in 1979.
Jeff has his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and his Masters Degree in Voice Performance (with a secondary emphasis in Choral Conducting and Literature) from the University of Northern Colorado (Go Bears!!). He has been conducting choirs in the public schools for almost 34 years. Jeff is currently the Director of Choirs and Performing Arts Department Chair at William J Palmer High School in the heart of Colorado Springs.
Jeff has been fortunate enough to receive the Rotary Diamond Award, and the Colorado Springs Chorale Society Peak Educator of the Year award. His award-winning choirs have performed in Elitch's, California (Disneyland), New Orleans, and at Carnegie Hall in New York City. He sings and plays keyboard, guitar and bass. Jeff is also a published composer/arranger. He is currently chair of the Colorado High School All-State Jazz Choirs, and has worked with members of The Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices, True North, Kate Reid, and other nationally and internationally known vocal jazz singers/educators/clinicians.
Jeff is also on the board of the Colorado High School All-State Choirs, and the Colorado Music Educator’s Association.
Jeff is married to Kristi, and has two amazing children - Ethan and Mackenzie.
Listen for Jeff...
Weekdays from 2-5pm -Special Program Tuesdays at 3pm- Jump & Jive
Saturdays from 11am-2pm
Sundays at 7pm: Voices of Jazz
Saturdays at 10am: Big Band Bash
Tony Szajowski
On-Air Host
One of the most in demand jazz pianists in Colorado Springs, Tony "Jazzy Tones" Szajowski was born and raised in Chicago and started playing piano at the age of 4. Tony began his professional career in high school playing for radio commercials and the Merit School of Music Honors Jazz Ensemble. Since then, Tony has been an in-demand performer and has appeared at events such as Summer Camp Music Festival and The Taste of Chicago and has shared the bill with artists such as Willie Nelson, Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Dumpstaphunk, Forq, Method Man & Red Man, Dark Star Orchestra, and Umphrey’s McGee. Since moving to Colorado Springs in 2018, Tony currently plays with many of the top artists and groups in the Colorado Springs area including the Brad Eastin Quintet, Tribe, The Moldy Figs, Rhythm & The Rose, and Tidal Breeze, as well as his own quartet and trio.
Tony believes jazz is a way of life. “It’s not just about the music, it’s about how you live your life and your relationships with yourself, others, and the world community as a whole. Every jazz musician has a story to tell and that story comes from their life’s experiences, both good and bad. That story directly comes out in the music, especially through improvisation. As a performer, my moods and thoughts directly affect what comes out of my instrument and how it effects listeners. Moods and thoughts draw directly from our life’s experiences, for both the recent and distant past. The more beautifully we live our lives, the more positive effects and emotions we are able to pass on to our audiences through our playing.”
You can listen to Tony every Saturday and Sunday from 8pm-1am.
Duane Johnson
On-Air Host
A star struck teenager wanted to be Eric Clapton and subsequently developed a fascination with the blues. One day while watching a TV special on the blues, he saw a brief segment with guitarist Kenny Burrell playing a very soulful but different interpretation of the blues.
What's this jazz stuff all about? One thing lead to another; Coltrane, Miles, Mingus, Duke Ellington. The die was cast. A year on the road playing disco. Then a composition degree from Berklee in Boston, a Master's in Jazz Studies from New England Conservatory, an NEA Commission to write a jazz suite, other grants including a recording with Sam Rivers and Jon Medeski, An inveterate collector of music of many styles, especially, Jazz, Blues, Classical, 60s English Pop, New Wave, early Reggae and Rock Steady, and Soukous from the Congo. Music is a celebration of life. Always keep the flame burning.
BJ Estares
On-Air Host
BJ Estares, Singer /Song Writer, is a blues guitarist residing in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Born in San Diego, California on February 1st, 1954, BJ grew up influenced by his father’s love of big band jazz and his mother’s love for country music.
BJ began studying jazz guitar on his own at the age of 12 until his elder brother introduced him to the blues via “Janis Joplin and The Holding Company”. So, it only made since that when you put jazz and country together you get the blues.
BJ met Kimberly Grant in his junior year of high school and they married in June of 1972.
They celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2022.
After a tour in the US Army, two years of college, raising two sons and a 28 year career in the construction trades (from a total of 37 years), Beej finally sold a song to friend and mentor, “Big Jim Adam”. "No Man At All" was first recorded by Jim on "Live at Jimbo's” in 2005.Later, in that same year, Beej formed his band, “BJ Estares and Route 61”. Since then, they have experienced steady growth in popularity in the Pikes Peak Region’s burgeoning music scene.
In 2015 BJ Estares and Route 61 earned honors for “Best Self-Produced CD” and “Best Blues Band” from the Pikes Peak Blues Community. They have performed openers for The Ronnie Baker Brooks Band, American Blues Music Award winner Tommy Castro and The Pain Killers, two time IBC winner Lionel Young Band and award winning Texas blues man, Mike Zito.
BJ and Route 61 performed original tunes from their first CD release “Full Time Student of the Blues” at the Pikes Peak Center’s Studio B Showcase in 2012 and were invited back in 2013 to perform the all original-award winning release, “Easy Street”. BJ and Route 61 also performed regularly as a house band at Bronco Billy’s in Cripple Creek from 2015 to 2018.
BJ’s new recording effort is currently in the production process and its release in 2023 is hopeful.
Keith Simon
Operations Director
Keith Simon, a native of Southeast Texas, moved to Colorado Springs with his wife, Melissa, in 1997. A graduate of Lamar University with a Bachelor’s Degree is Mass Communication, Keith landed his first radio job in 1984 and has been hooked on broadcasting ever since.
When not working on an endless list of projects around his home, Keith’s interests include amateur and shortwave radio, classic movies, and collectible cars. Keith arrived at KCME in 2007 and, aside from serving as Program Director and Traffic Manager, he now enjoys hosting classical music on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, plus the occasional stint on Jazz 93.5.
Keith Simon, KCME & Jazz 93.5 Operations Manager, joined the station in 2007. Here are his thoughts on working in public radio...
Radio has been in my blood almost since day one. As a seven-year-old monitoring the AM band for reports tracking the progress of Santa Claus, I stepped back and began to monitor the actual process of broadcasting instead of merely being a passive listener. That was 1972.
My first love was a “clear-channel” (back when that meant something different that today’s media mega-corporation) AM news station out of Houston, Texas. Although the actual transmitter and studios were probably a little over an hour’s drive from my hometown and my clock radio, it was totally another universe. I was hooked. In 1984, I walked into a tiny AM station in Beaumont, Texas with the line, “I’ve never worked in radio, but…”
It was then that I discovered how completely different it was to be on the other side of the microphone. Still, the love affair continued.
In the ensuing years, commercial broadcasting has become much more homogenized, losing much of the unique, local flavor it had in those days. More times than not, an announcer or host is not a local resident, not a member of the community, not a friend or neighbor, and not someone you would see at your grocery store. There are certainly exceptions, and we’re fortunate to have some very fine local outlets in this city, but there are not as many as you’d think.
That’s why I’ve been a fan and supporter of local public radio stations since my college days, when I first set foot inside the university radio station as a teenaged, Mass-Communication major. I liken it to buying local produce over something frozen or canned from the supermarket. You can taste the difference. In public radio, Classical KCME and Jazz 93.5, you can hear the difference.
That’s why I do what I do, and I hope to meet you soon on the airwaves.
General Manager
Stephanie Horton
General Manager, Jazz 93.5 and Classical KCME 88.7
Stephanie Horton is General Manager and has been Development and Marketing Director for almost 2 years. She started out in public media over a decade ago working for RSUPublic TV as Membership and Program Manager. In 2011, Stephanie joined the Houston Public Media team as the Assistant Director of Individual Giving managing the member services team, and after a few short years transitioned to On Air Fundraising Manager for HoustonPBS, News 88.7 and Classical 91.7 Radio.
Wanting to help make a difference in her hometown community of Spring, TX and spend more time with her children in March of 2017 she started Strive Consulting Group. This new opportunity allowed her to work as a consultant assisting small non-profits with fundraising and event management. As a Texan native, just moving to Colorado in the summer of 2018, she began building new roots in the Colorado Springs community and helping create partnerships between UCCS and corporations/foundations. Now coming back home to public media she is focused on growing the financial resources for both KCME and Jazz 93.5 to make a bigger impact in the lives of its listeners. Stephanie is a proud wife, mom of three boys and a bonus daughter with a love for dance and a passion for the arts.
Questions or concerns? Contact Stephanie at gm@kcme.org