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…
Hi-resolution versions of the albums Pat Metheny recorded for the ECM label are being made available online.
(Photo: Rolf Frison)Guitarist Pat Metheny forged a singular and instantly recognizable sound during his relationship with the ECM label.
Hi-resolution versions of his albums for the label—like American Garage, which featured late keyboardist Lyle Mays, and Bright Size Life—were made available Friday on digital platforms for the first time.
“The main premise in digitizing the Pat Metheny tapes was not to change the sound of the recordings, but to realize them in the original form, in the best possible quality,” ECM mastering engineer Christoph Stickel said in a note to press.
“The work was based on the original, analog stereo master tapes. The masters are in very good condition and can be played without problems,” he continued. “All tapes were played by a Studer A820, which was meticulously calibrated to the respective tape. The analog signal was digitized in 96kHz/24-bit, which covers the complete spectrum of the original bands. In each case, a decision was made between a PrismSound ADA-8XR, an Antelope Eclipse Mastering AD and a Mythek Brooklyn ADC, depending on which one suited the respective recording best. No denoising and no other restoration affecting the sound was carried out.”
The music is slated to be available on Acoustic Sounds (download), Amazon (streaming), Apple Music (download and streaming), HDtracks (download), Prostudiomaster (download), Qobuz (download and streaming) and Tidal (MQA Master streaming). 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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Marsalis will, if he chooses to use it, have a strong voice in perpetuating his vision through a role in choosing his successors.
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