I have so many memories of seeing and hearing him over the years both live and on disc.
A Corner House gig with the Bill Harper Trio in, I think, the late '80s/early '90s got me hooked, Around about then he also took part in one of the all-time greatest north east jazz concerts at the (then) Saville Exchange, North Shields...
Marty Grosz (guitar, vocals) and Ken Peplowski (tenor sax, clarinet) were not only musically compatible but could also lay claim to be the best comedy duo to come from America since Abbott and Costello.
Another 'card' that Ken hit it off with was fellow multi-reedsman and raconteur Alan Barnes. Sessions at Scarborough Jazz Festival in 2009 and at Lockerbie Jazz Festival the following year are lodged firmly and fondly in my memory.
When it came to mainstream tenor playing Ken Peplowski could hold his own with the best. When it came to mainstream clarinet playing Ken Peplowski was the best. It is so sad that he left us at the relatively early age of 66 but at least he died shortly after doing what he did so well - playing jazz, making people happy, may he REST IN PEACE. Lance
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Sad news. I have a CD that I play a lot. It is titled 'Remembering Louis' and on the 'Jump' label. It features a quartet of Ken Peplowski (clarinet), Marty Grosz (acoustic guitar), Jon-Erik Kellso (trumpet) and Vince Giordano (double bass & bass sax). It was recorded in 2001 at a church in Manhattan with great acoustics and although there was no audience the group were recorded playing live with just one mic per player. The recording engineer was Herb Pomeroy. The musicianship, the interplay and the sense of fun they convey makes for a terrific album.
Roly
What a loss! Saw him recently on a show from Mezzrows with Spike Wilmer on piano and my favourite drummer Matt Wilson. Irreplaceable R.I.P Ken
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