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…
Bollani demonstrates at the piano during a live Blindfold Test in Umbria, Italy, while writer Ashley Kahn, right, and translator Greg Burk look on.
(Photo: David Morresi/Umbria Jazz)Raconteur, bon vivant and popular television host Stefano Bollani is also one of Italy’s best-known pianists, a rare jazz performer with a foothold in mainstream media, using his high profile to boost awareness and appreciation for music. Now in its fourth season, Via dei Matti n.0 is the name of his weekly program on channel RAI 3 where he meets and plays with various performers. Bollani joined two other notable pianists — Dado Moroni and Danilo Rea — in a rare three-piano concert to open the Umbria Jazz Winter festival in Orvieto, Italy, on Dec. 30. The next morning, on the same stage in Teatro Mancinelli, he participated in his second DownBeat Blindfold Test in front of a full house.
Oscar Peterson
“Sweet George Brown” (Oscar Peterson And The Bassists–Montreux ’77, Pablo, 1977) Peterson, piano; Ray Brown, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, bass.
This is Oscar Peterson playing, in the ’70s, I believe, with two basses! Thank you for this choice. The kinds of phrases he plays are always so clear and alive, brilliant and so swinging that it is unmistakable. He also pushes forward: He’s pulling these bassists forward by their hair. He is the pianist that made me fall in love with jazz. I was 10 years old. Someone had given me an album without a photo on the cover and I was convinced there were two pianists: Oscar and Peterson. I was very surprised when my father told me that it was one pianist only. That’s when I began practice a lot!
Emmet Cohen
“Henei Ma Tov” (Vibe Provider, Mack Avenue, 2024) Cohen, piano; Philip Norris, bass; Joe Farnsworth, percussion.
This seems to me to be a European player. The melody resembles the national anthem of a Scandinavian country. [afterwards] Perfect! Cohen is an Icelandic last name, as we all know [laughs] I like Emmet. I saw him play in Rome. He invited me on stage and we played together. He’s very good and I like the concerts he films at his house.
Luca Flores
“How Far Can You Fly?” (For Those I Never Knew, Splasc(h), 1995) Flores, piano.
This is my first teacher of jazz piano named Luca Flores, playing a piece of his called “How Far Can You Fly?” This is from his last recording. I was studying classical music and I fell in love with the sound of jazz because I had heard Charlie Parker, so at 11 years old I looked for a teacher and found Luca. He was a very shy person, reserved, very interior. He taught me this piece “Au Privave”: I want to play it for you [goes to piano, plays humorously frantic version]. Luca remained perfectly still and stared at me for two-and-a-half minutes, then told me, “Songs can be played at any speed. Let’s move on.” He was an excellent teacher, he showed me exactly what I needed and he was an extraordinary pianist, if not often celebrated. Luca had many problems and attempted suicide a few times. He made this recording, put the master tape in the mail to the producer and killed himself the next day. As you may know, Walter Veltroni wrote a book about him that was then made into a film by Riccardo Milani called Piano, Solo. It’s a beautiful film, and I played many of the piano parts.
Rita Marcotulli
“Us And Them” (The Light Side Of The Moon, Foné Jazz, 2017) Marcotulli, piano; Pasquale Minieri, electronics.
Is the tune well known? It’s a classical tune? Prog rock? I like prog rock, specifically King Crimson. [audience starts talking] They say that I know this. What’s going on? [turns to audience] What song is it? Ah! “Us And Them” of Pink Floyd. Never heard of them. [laughs] It’s Rita that’s playing? No way! I have a favorite recording of Rita where she plays the music from the films of Truffaut, called The Woman Next Door. This was beautiful. I liked it and the use of electronics very much. Do you know who it was, Ashley?
Ashley Kahn: Pasquale Minieri.
Stefano Bollani: Pasquale is the husband of Rita. He passed away just a few days ago, a great musician. Let’s give him an applause.
Tigran Himasayan
“The Curse–Blood Of An Innocent Is Spilled” (The Bird Of A Thousand Voices, Naive, 2021) Hamasyan, piano, keyboards, synthesizers; Layth Sidiq, violin, voice; Marc Karapetian, electric bass; Nate Wood, drums.
Ah! I think this is a song of the Armenian Army where they declare they are destined to conquer the world. The pianist, who also whistled, could be Tigran, but then there is this very strong will to assert oneself, which frightened me a bit. The first part was very beautiful, I liked it very much. It’s the kind of recording that I would not listen to at home, but I can imagine live it could be an experience. I don’t go crazy for the darkness of this music. I feel better in the sunshine, but he is fabulous, fantastic. I heard him for the first time years ago with a group at the North Sea Jazz Festival with Ari Hoenig.
Emahoy Tsegué/Mariam Guèbru
“Song Of Abayi” (Ethiopiques 21: Piano Solo, Buda Musique, 1983) Gabru, piano.
I don’t remember her name, but I think she was a nun and is an African pianist — Ethiopian? I discovered her recently in a film that used her music. It’s something very particular, very beautiful. Her music is outside of the familiar circuits. It’s strange and familiar, with oriental scales, but then she plays something unexpected, something bizarre, things that are not traceable to any tradition of improvisation. It’s very interesting. Bravo, this was a nice choice.
Jason Moran
“You’ve Got To Be Modernistic” (Modernistic, Blue Note, 2002) Moran, piano.
Ah! Beautiful. It could be composed by Ellington, like “Portrait Of The Lion,” of Willie Smith, or James P. Johnson. The pianist is much more modern than Duke, more recent. In the middle he tried so many different things. I liked a lot of the things, all of the feeling and the swing that he has. I disliked some of it, too, because it sounded like too much. [afterwards] I have this album! But I didn’t recognize it. What I like about Jason is the Ellington or James P. Johnson attitude, and the swing he has. Absolutely powerful! I’m going to check it again. DB
The “Blindfold Test” is a listening test that challenges the featured artist to discuss and identify the music and musicians who performed on selected recordings. The artist is then asked to rate each tune using a 5-star system. No information is given to the artist prior to the test.
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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