Thu 3/21 @ 7:30PM
Fri 3/22 @ 8PM
With so many universities and colleges in the area offering jazz studies programs, we’re lucky to enjoy a surfeit of jazzfests. The biggie, at Tri-C, is next month. In the meantime, jazz lovers — especially those who like their jazz traditional — should head down to Akron. Now its 11th year, the University of Akron Jazzfest, taking place this week, is focusing on swing.
Cleveland-born, Benny Goodman-influenced clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski is this year’s artist in residence, joining students for master classes, lessons, rehearsals and performances.
Peplowski can tell the kids about making the most of your roots. He got his start in polka bands, playing Polish weddings and dances even before he was in high school. “When you grow up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in a Polish polka band, you learn to think fast on your feet,” he says in his bio.
He was also playing jazz, and it was at a local jazzfest (pay attention, kids!) that he was spotted by the director of the Tommy Dorsey Band and tapped to go on the road with them. He moved to New York in 1980 and never looked back, even briefly playing with the legendary Goodman. He’s also played with Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, George Shearing — and Madonna.
Tonight he’ll team up with the UA Faculty Jazz Ensemble for the “Back in the Swing” concert at the Stage Door, an intimate, cabaret-style venue at E.J. Thomas Hall. Tomorrow it’s the kids’ turn. Peplowski will be featured in a big band concert with the UA Student Jazz Ensemble at the same venue.
Tickets to each concert are $12. You can reserve them here. For more information about UA Jazzfest, go here.