Hybrid Jazz From Trish Hennessey - with Ken Peplowski!

Listen, if I run out of room here, you'll understand.  Ken Peplowski has had a LIFETIME of experience - since elementary school - he has worked for decades - then, there are the artists who have worked with him....whew!  

Cleveland, Ohio is Ken's home turf.  There, he and his brother (on trumpet) would play in bands that focused on Polka and whatever else the crowd wanted.  He learned how ti improvise EARLY - before his teens.  Performing through high school, he was also teaching at the local music store.  And he was on Radio and TV.  All of this - plus getting up early for school.  It paved the way for his beautiful musical journey - which wrote a new chapter when he moved to New York in 1980.

Ken had been playing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow.  The word got out regarding this superb clarinetist and saxophonist.  Sonny Stitt thought enough about him to take Ken under his wing (!!!)  Meanwhile, iconic bandleader Benny Goodman had come out of retirement - and hired Ken.  To say that our guest learned a lot during THAT brief and shining time would be an understatement.  "The King of Swing" died two years later.  Ken flew into new work with a commitment to creativity, melody and personal interpretation.  He has mastered ALL.  Approximately 50 albums as a soloist, about 400 as a side man - and here's just a partial litany of those who have appreciated Ken's artistic approach.  Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, Hank Jones and - wait for it - Madonna :)  He has headlined major events - in every kind of venue, small or HUGE.  In 2014, he was given the Sarasota Jazz Festival's "Satchmo" Award - for his contribution to the living history of Jazz.  When you hear "Enrapture", you'll HEAR that contribution!  

Join us on 5/21/2016!