CD Review: Ken Peplowski - Enrapture

Ken Peplowski (clt/ten); Ehud Asherie (pno); Martin Wind (bs); Matt Wilson (dms/perc.)

(Review by Lance)

Any disc by Peplowski arrives like a breath of fresh air. Shaw/Goodman/DeFranco encapsulated as one - a clarinettist capable of cherishing the past whilst living for today. On tenor he exudes the feeling only the best can achieve, Not as effusive as Webster or Hawkins nor as Cool as Getz, maybe Zoot is nearest - ie the best of both worlds eg: Our Love Affair from the film An Affair to Remember is certainly one to remember for the above mentioned qualities.

The material comes from diverse, and often surprising, material.

Oh My Love (Lennon/Yoko); Cheer Up Charlie (Bricusse/ Newley); I'll Follow My Secret Heart (Noel Coward); Love Music From Vertigo (Bernard Herrmann); When October Goes (Manilow/Mercer); Willow Tree (Fats Waller); Flaming Sword (Ellington); Twelve (Peter Erskine) and the title track Enrapture (Herbie Nichols).

This isn't your familiar hard swinging mainstream player - although there's a fair representation of the Peplowski we know and love - a lot of the music is contemplative, exploratory, in a romantic sought of way and, perhaps, makes us love him even more!

His fellow travellers are well up to the job despite being unfamiliar names. Asherie plays great piano and Wind's bowed bass blast on Willow Tree is a lesson in arcology. Wilson kicks a few shades on the same number - seven shades would have been too many for this beautiful, rarely heard, number.

Lance.
Available February 16 on Capri Records.