Remembering Ken Peplowski

Ken Peplowski, an acclaimed American jazz clarinetist and saxophonist, passed away suddenly last Monday, February 3. He was 66. Jazz critic Russell Davies called Peplowski “arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist.” In his youth, he performed in the final iteration of the Benny Goodman Orchestra. As a soloist, he explored a range of jazz styles from Dixieland to bebop. In 2007, he was named jazz advisor for the Oregon Festival of American …

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Over the Rainbow with Anne Akiko Meyers

  Earlier in the week, I had the pleasure of accompanying violinist Anne Akiko Meyers in the Samuel Barber Violin Concerto. Meyers performed with the Williamsburg Symphonia, a chamber orchestra based in Williamburg, Virginia. You can hear her interpretation of the Barber on this recording, released in 2000. (She is accompanied by conductor Christopher Seaman and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Listen to the second movement here). Anne Akiko Meyers’ family joined her in …

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