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…
Each year, The Jazz Journalist Association—a nonprofit that supports mediamakers in jazz—offers up a list of notable advocates of the genre who have worked to better their local scenes. This year’s honorees, which were announced Saturday, are below.
Ann Arbor, Michigan: Deanna Relyea
Atlanta: Gwen Redding
Baltimore: Sean Jones
Bay Area, California: Richard Hadlock
Birmingham: Leah Tucker
Boston: Ran Blake
Brooklyn, New York: Matthew Garrison & Fortuna Sung
Capital Region, New York: Susan Cohen Brink
Charlotte, North Carolina: Lonnie & Ocie Davis
Chicago: Harriet Choice
Cleveland: Terri Pontremoli
Denver, Colorado: Norman Provizer
Fort Lauderdale, Florida: Dr. Ronald B. Weber
Hartford, Connecticut: Ed Krech
Indianapolis: Albert Coleman
Los Angeles: Billy Mitchell
Minneapolis: Patty Peterson
New York: Roberta Alloway
Philadelphia: Anthony Tidd
Portland, Oregon: Ron Steen
Seattle: Jay Thomas
St. Louis: Gene Dobbs Bradford
Tallahassee, Florida: Jan & Mark Pudlow
Washington, DC: Sunny Sumter
JJA’s full announcement can be read here. 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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