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…
Clint Eastwood is the executive producer of Bruce Ricker’s documentary about jazz legend Dave Brubeck.
“Dave Brubeck is an American legend,” Eastwood said. “He is an American original who continues to make significant contributions to music, introduced a whole new generation to the world of jazz, and continues to explore the international language of music.”
Ricker’s film traces the journey of the development of Brubeck’s latest work, the “Cannery Row Suite,” from the moment it was first commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival to its premiere at the festival in 2006. Eastwood’s film crews captured early rehearsals, dress rehearsals, sound checks and the final performance. The film also chronicles other major milestones in Brubeck’s career.
Ricker’s other film credits include Thelonious Monk, Straight No Chaser and The Last of the Blue Devils. He and Eastwood are currently making a documentary about Tony Bennett, The Music Never Ends.
Along with producing the film, Eastwood is also chairing a new honorary board formed at the University of Pacific’s Brubeck Institute to preserve and continue Brubeck’s work. Other board members include trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis, film director George Lucas, recording artist Al Jarreau, record producer Quincy Jones, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, television and recording producer Larry Rosen, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, and trumpeter and record producer Herb Alpert, among others.
For more information, visit: www.pacific.edu/conservatory
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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