Feb 3, 2026 12:10 AM
In Memoriam: Ken Peplowski, 1959–2026
Ken Peplowski, a clarinetist and tenor saxophonist who straddled the worlds of traditional and modern jazz, died Feb. 2…
Dave Brubeck took home top honors at the BBC Jazz Awards on Thursday. The legendary pianist was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, and he also performed via satellite link from New York with the BBC Big Band, led by Guy Barker.
Hosted by Paul Gambaccini, the awards recognized British jazzers Martin Taylor, Finn Peters and The Neil Cowley Trio, in addition to celebrating the life and work of George Melly. This year’s ceremony included a new category, International Artist of the Year, which was awarded to platinum-selling French-American singer Madeleine Peyroux. And this year’s BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year award went to Curtis Stigers.
There will be more information on the awards and a chance to listen again at BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3.
Winners of BBC Jazz Awards 2007 were:
BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Best Band: Finn Peters
Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation: Tom Bancroft
Rising Star: Simon Spillet
Best Instrumentalist: Julian Siegel
Best Vocalist: Ian Shaw
Album Of The Year: Displaced – Neil Cowley
Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year: Curtis Stigers
Radio 2 Heart of Jazz Award: Martin Taylor
Services to Jazz: Gary Crosby
International Award: Madeleine Peyroux
Lifetime Achievement: Dave Brubeck
Peplowski first came to prominence in legacy swing bands, including the final iteration of the Benny Goodman Orchestra, before beginning a solo career in the late 1980s.
Feb 3, 2026 12:10 AM
Ken Peplowski, a clarinetist and tenor saxophonist who straddled the worlds of traditional and modern jazz, died Feb. 2…
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