Home » Jazz Musicians » Ken Peplowski

Ken Peplowski

“When you grow up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in a Polish polka band, you learn to think fast on your feet”, says Ken Peplowski, who played his first pro engagement when he was still in elementary school. “From my first time performing in public, I knew I wanted to play music for a living.”

Ken, and his trumpet-playing brother Ted, made many local radio and TV appearances and played for Polish dances and weddings virtually every weekend all through high-school. “That’s where I learned to improvise, ‘fake’ songs, learn about chord changes, etc.- it’s exactly like learning to swim by being thrown into the water!”

By the time Ken was in his early teens, he was experimenting with jazz by playing in the school “stage” bands, and also by jamming with many of the local jazz musicians. “By the time I hit high school, I was teaching at the local music store, playing in our family band, and playing jazz gigs around town while still getting up early every day for school.”

After a year of college, Ken joined the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow. “Buddy heard me with my quartet at a Cleveland jazz festival along with Teddy Wilson’s trio and the Dorsey band, and made an offer right then and there for me to not only play lead alto, but to have a feature spot on the clarinet with the rhythm section. It was a great ‘road-school’ – we learned the discipline that goes with playing one-nighters every day for 48 weeks out of the year, and Buddy was a great, very generous bandleader.”

Peplowski met Sonny Stitt while on the road with the Dorsey band, and studied with him. “He was, and is, an inspiration to all of of us who make a living ‘on the road’ – I’ve never heard anybody play with such amazing consistency as Sonny, through all kinds of settings.”

In 1980, Ken moved to New York City,and was soon playing in all kinds of settings, from traditional to avant-garde jazz. “Everything’s a learning experience in jazz music – there’s always an element of the unpredictable.” In 1984, Benny Goodman came out of retirement and put together a new band, hiring Ken on tenor saxophone.

Peplowski  signed with Concord Records, under the tutelage of Carl Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded close to 20 albums as a leader, including “The Natural Touch” in 1992 which won Best Jazz Record of the Year by the Prises Deutschen Schallplatten Kritiken, and “The Other Portrait”, recorded in Sophia Bulgaria with the symphony orchestra and highlighting Ken’s classical side. He also recorded two records on the Nagel Heyer label,”Lost In The Stars” and “Easy To Remember”, the latter of which features Bobby Short on his last recording. “I loved Bobby Short’s approach to the American songbook, and we’d talked about doing a record together for a while – I’m glad we got this one ‘in the can.’

Read more

Tags

39
Album Review

David Larsen: The Peplowski Project

Read "The Peplowski Project" reviewed by Jack Bowers


The Peplowski Project was a labor of love for saxophonist David Larsen, a longtime admirer of fellow reedman Ken Peplowski who sits in with Larsen's impressive quartet on each of the album's eleven numbers, playing clarinet on six, tenor saxophone on five. As for Larsen, he plays his Gerry Mulligan-flavored baritone sax on five of the session's first six numbers, then sets it aside in favor of the alto (on Al Cohn's “Jazz Line Blues"), tenor or ...

2
Album Review

Susie Meissner: I Wish I Knew

Read "I Wish I Knew" reviewed by Jack Bowers


I wish I knew why the talented Philadelphia-based singer Susie Meissner chose to open her salute to the Great American Songbook with the only tune on the album that doesn't really qualify: Curtis Lewis' “The Great City." It's not a bad song but Cole Porter or Johnny Mandel it ain't. On the bright side, Meissner recovers quickly on the fourth album under her name with a burnished rendition of the title theme, a memorable composition by the legendary Hollywood songwriting ...

7
Album Review

Susie Meissner: I Wish I Knew

Read "I Wish I Knew" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Over the past decade and three previous recordings, Philadelphia-based vocalist Susie Meissner has crafted an intelligently conceived and thoughtfully paced survey of the Great American Songbook. Meissner's considerations of the standard jazz repertoire, in concert with pianist John Shaddy's sturdy arrangements and educated performance manner, have emerged, evolving from chaste and reverent beginnings, into rich and supple layerings of stylistic and technical outreach with each subsequent recording. Meissner's debut, I'll Remember April (Lydian Jazz, 2009), emerged as a ...

6
Album Review

Susie Meissner: Tea for Two

Read "Tea for Two" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey


Natural but determined evolution makes for well conceived and produced projects. Vocalist Susie Meissner has proved this statement as she progressed from her debut recording I'll Remember April (Lydian Jazz, 2009), through her sophomore effort, I'm Confessin' (Lydian Jazz, 2011) to the present Tea for Two. Using a well-worn repertoire, Meissner, mostly with the support of pianist John Shaddy and his regular rhythm section (bassist Lee Smith and drummer Dan Monaghan), has steadily moved from solid, if not predictable, arrangements ...

3
Album Review

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + The Boys

Read "DIVA + The Boys" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


The all-female DIVA Jazz Orchesta has a boy-meets-girls story threaded into its origin, as drummer Stanley Kay served as the impetus behind the group's formation. Therefore, it's only fitting that the ladies have a few gentleman over to join them for some high times in the music every now and then. This eight-song set, recorded live at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in March of 2017, finds clarinetist Ken Peplowski, dearly departed trumpeter Claudio Roditi, trombonist Jay Ashby, and ...

6
Album Review

The DIVA Jazz Orchestra: DIVA + the Boys

Read "DIVA + the Boys" reviewed by Jack Bowers


After more than twenty-five years as one of the world's most renowned big bands, drummer Sherrie Maricle's superlative all-female DIVA Jazz Orchestra invited a quartet of “the boys" onboard to help ensure the ensemble's twelfth album's success. Even though DIVA needs no consorts to affirm its unremitting mastery, it is nonetheless pleasurable to witness these talented women sharing the stage and blowing up a storm with such esteemed guest artists as clarinetist Ken Peplowski, trombonist Jay Ashby and (it hurts ...

5
Album Review

The Ken Peplowski Big Band: Sunrise

Read "Sunrise" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Many contemporary big bands are all about “breaking new ground" and “exploring new pathways." Not this one. Ace clarinetist Ken Peplowski, who has performed and recorded with myriad large ensembles, at home and abroad, but has seldom led one--although he did record one other big-band album, Last Swing of the Century (Concord Jazz, 1999)--simply wants to make beautiful music, a goal he and his hand-picked corps of merry men (and one woman) easily reach on Sunrise, as they glide smoothly ...

Read more articles

Performance / Tour

An artful blending of two musical genres

An artful blending of two musical genres

Source: Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes

Jazz and classical music rarely intersect. But they make interesting bedfellows when brought together by two musicians who are well at ease in both fields. Such was the case on Saturday, February 24 when pianist Dick Hyman and reed player Ken Peplowski joined forces with a 47-member orchestra conducted by Yakov Bergman. The “Symphony of Broadway" program at the Venice (FL) Performing Arts Center featured a wide variety of band formats.. Hyman, who turns 91 on March 8, has been ...

2

Radio

This Week On Riverwalk Jazz: Clarinet Marmalade

This Week On Riverwalk Jazz: Clarinet Marmalade

Source: Don Mopsick

This week on Riverwalk Jazz The Jim Cullum Jazz Band offers an exploration of great pre-WWII voices of jazz clarinet with the help of prominent contemporary exponents of the “old school." Evan Christopher, Bob Wilber, Kenny Davern and Ken Peplowski perform with the Band and talk about their mentors and influences. The program is distributed in the US by Public Radio International. You can also drop in on a continuous stream of shows at the Stanford Archive of Recorded Sound. ...

1

Event

Columbus Jazz Orchestra Pays Tribute To The King Of Swing In Bravo, Benny!: The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

Columbus Jazz Orchestra Pays Tribute To The King Of Swing In Bravo, Benny!: The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert

Source: Scott Vezdos

Columbus, OH – Under the direction of world-renowned band leader and trumpet virtuoso Byron Stripling, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO) continues to break new ground while honoring the rich heritage of America’s classical music – jazz. On March 13-16 at the Southern Theatre, the CJO pays tribute to the “King of Swing” and his famous 1938 Carnegie Hall concert with “Bravo, Benny!” featuring Ken Peplowski and Bria Skonberg. On January 16, 1938, Benny Goodman brought his swing orchestra to America’s ...

Festival

14th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party Set Feb. 12-16

14th Annual Newport Beach Jazz Party Set Feb. 12-16

Source: Larry Taylor

Upcoming on Valentine’s Day weekend,eb.13-16, will be the 14th annual Newport Beach Jazz Party at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa in Orange county, California,featuring over 70 musicians playing “Right Down The Middle And Straight Ahead” Jazz. Among the highlights this year is a Salute to Jazz at the Philharmonic which toured decades ago, a tribute to Stan Getz and a Valentines Day dance. Here is a rundown of the other events: Thursday’s opening night in the ballroom features ...

64

Recording

Ken Peplowski Keeps It Fresh and Vibrant with "In Search Of. . . "

Ken Peplowski Keeps It Fresh and Vibrant with "In Search Of. . . "

Source: Gapplegate Music Review by Grego Edwards

For someone who is playing within a tradition, it is important to keep inspiration high, to keep yourself challenged and contributing on a high level. Where perhaps some have fallen victim over time to a kind of creeping fungus of the repertoire, the same tunes played in the same ways time and again, Ken Peplowski has found ways to keep his music very much a thing of today. His newest, In Search of. . . (Capri 74108-2), is a particularly ...

62

Recording

From the Stacks 2011, Vol. 3: Michel Reis, Pitom, Rhys Chatham, Ken Peplowski, Others

From the Stacks 2011, Vol. 3: Michel Reis, Pitom, Rhys Chatham, Ken Peplowski, Others

Source: Something Else!

by S. Victor Aaron Rhys Chatham: The Man With The Horns. Many, many horns. It might be only the third Stacks so far this year, but it's a much overdue one. There's a whopping seven 2011 releases discussed here, with several other worthy ones being pushed back to a later fourth installment. Two of these albums are by veteran acts, but the remaining five capture five budding talents at or near the beginning of their recording careers as leaders. Some ...

51

Event

Columbus Jazz Orchestra Honors Three BS of Jazz with "Basie, Buddy & Benny" Featuring Butch Miles & Ken Peplowski

Columbus Jazz Orchestra Honors Three BS of Jazz with "Basie, Buddy & Benny" Featuring Butch Miles & Ken Peplowski

Source: Michael Ricci

Jazz royalty takes center stage as the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) celebrates Count Basie, Buddy Rich and the “King of Swing," Benny Goodman, March 16-20 at the historic Southern Theatre. Under the direction of Artistic Director Byron Stripling, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra honors the three Bs of jazz with “Basie, Buddy & Benny" featuring drummer Butch Miles and clarinetist Ken Peplowski. Playing with such luminaries as Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dave Brubeck, Mel Torme, Lena ...

113

Performance / Tour

Ken Peplowski Quartet Friday & Saturday , January 4-5 at Kitano 2 Sets - 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM

Ken Peplowski Quartet Friday  & Saturday , January 4-5 at Kitano 2 Sets - 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

Friday & Saturday, January 4-5, 2008 Ken Peplowski Quartet with Jay Leonhart-bass, Ted Rosenthal-piano, Tom Melito-drums At Kitano 66 Park Avenue (at 38th St.) New York City 212-885-7119 2 SETS - 8:00 PM & 10:00 PM $25 FRI./SAT. - $15 MIN./SET The late Mel Tormesaid, “Since the advent of Benny Goodman,there have been too few clarinetists to fill the void that Goodman left. Ken Peplowski is ...

121

Performance / Tour

Jay Leonhardt Trio with Special Guest Ken Peplowski

Jay Leonhardt Trio with Special Guest Ken Peplowski

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

FRIDAY & SAT AUGUST 24 & 25 THE KITANO HOTEL 66 Park Ave @ E.38 Street New York, N.Y. 212-885-7000

Presents the JAYLEONHART TRIO Jay Leonhart - Bass Wycliffe Gordon - Trombone Ted Rosenthal - Piano with Special Guest Ken Peplowski on Sax Friday August 24 only.

SETS AT 8:OO PM AND 10:00 PM RESERVATION ADVISED ...

259

Performance / Tour

Ken Peplowski Quartet Featuring Bill Charlap and Martin Wind March 15-18 at the Jazz Standard

Ken Peplowski Quartet Featuring Bill Charlap and Martin Wind March  15-18 at the Jazz Standard

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

March 15-18 at the Jazz Standard

Ken Peplowski Quartet featuring Bill Charlap and Martin Wind

Ken Peplowski - clarinet, tenor saxophone Bill Charlap - piano Martin Wind - bass Joe LaBarbara - drums

Jazz Standard is located at 116 E. 27th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues in Manhattan 212-576-2232 http://www.jazzstandard.net ALL SHOW TIMES: 7:30 & 9:30PM + 11:30PM ON FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS

A masterful melodist with an effortless sense ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Peplowski Project

Self Produced
2023

buy

Deviate from Standards

Larsenjazz Productions
2021

buy

DIVA + the Boys

MCG Jazz
2020

buy

I Wish I Knew

Lydian Jazz
2020

buy

The International...

Nagel Heyer Records
2020

buy

Sunrise

Arbors Records
2018

buy

Black Nightgown

From: The Peplowski Project
By Ken Peplowski

Black Nightgown

From: The Peplowski Project
By Ken Peplowski

Enrapture

From: Enrapture
By Ken Peplowski

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.