Fri 11/11 @ 8PM
Sat 11/12 @ 7:30PM
Jazz sax/clarinet player Ken Peplowski was born in Garfield Heights but he’s come a long way since those days. Now 63, he’s released three dozen records as band leader or co-leader since 1988. And the list of musicians he’s played with as a sideman goes on and on and on: Charlie Byrd, Leon Redbone, Mel Torme, John Pizzarelli, Peggy Lee, George Shearing and many more.
Peplowski will be coming home for two shows with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, whose artistic director Paul Ferguson writes, “It’s been way too long since we’ve had Ken Peplowski as a guest artist — perhaps the last time was when Roland Paolucci was artistic director, 1988-93! Not that we haven’t tried! Part of it may lay in the fact that Ken, a native of Garfield Heights, has seen his career escalate from that of a solid upper tier professional to one of the true greats of his generation.”
Ferguson also shares that he has created and adapted four new settings for Peplowski’s performances here, including “Goodman Medley” which he wrote for clarinetist Carl Topilow and his Cleveland Pops Orchestra; “Get Out of Town,” arranged for a Cole Porter show CJO’s Little Big Band did with The Musical Theater project; and arrangements of two CJO repertoire mainstays, “Tango” and “Conversations.”
The concerts will also feature a couple of new arrangements by band members: “Nature Boy” by Brad Wagner and “So in Love” by Chas Baker, as well as a new composition “Weekend Excursion” by Jack Schantz and several pieces by Duke Ellington and Mary Lou Williams chosen by Peplowski.
Cleveland Jazz Orchestra with Ken Peplowski will play at Akron’s intimate BLU Jazz+ on Friday evening and at the Maltz Performing Arts Center in University Circle on Saturday. Get tickets for BLU Jazz+ here and Maltz PAC here.