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…
Drummer Ignacio Berroa will present a master class, “Afro-Cuban Jazz and Beyond,” in Chicago on Aug. 31.
(Photo: Courtesy of the Artist)During the upcoming Chicago Jazz Festival, drummer Ignacio Berroa will present a master class, “Afro-Cuban Jazz and Beyond,” at the Chicago Cultural Center. This video/teaching demonstration, which is free and open to the public, will be presented on Aug. 31 at 11:00 a.m. in the Claudia Cassidy Theater.
In his presentation, Berroa will discuss the history and evolution of Afro-Cuban music. He will examine and illustrate the ways in which Afro-Cuban rhythms have shaped jazz, and vice-versa. His main goal is educate students, professional musicians and music lovers in general, while keeping alive the legacy of the great masters.
“Afro-Cuban Jazz and Beyond” presents an historical view of the circumstances involved in the development of Afro-Cuban music, beginning with the arrival of African slaves in Cuba, the Caribbean, the United States and Brazil.
Berroa will describe how certain African groups left their marks on the evolution of Afro-Cuban music, and he’ll examine the rhythmic similarities and differences between the countries where slaves arrived in the New World, the strong musical connection between Cuba and the United States, and how Afro-Cuban jazz has developed in this country.
The Chicago Cultural Center is located at 78 E. Washington Street in downtown Chicago. To see a list of other events happening on Aug. 31 during the Chicago Jazz Festival, click here.
Berroa’s latest album is a trio disc titled Straight Ahead From Havana. To learn more about Berroa, visit his website. DB
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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