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…
In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble (CJE), with Artistic Director Jon Faddis, will present “A Triumph Of Trumpets” on April 11, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago. The fourth in the CJE’s American Heritage Jazz series, the concert features trumpeters Randy Brecker, Tom Harrell, Lew Soloff and Terell Stafford, all showcasing a variety of styles in jazz, as well as how the trumpet’s role in jazz has evolved during the past century.
Faddis and Neil Tesser will start the evening with a conversation about the artists and their music. In addition, a master class with guests Brecker, Harrell, Soloff and Stafford is being offered at Columbia College in Chicago on April 10. The master class, moderated by Faddis, is free and open to the public.
“To stand on the same stage and play trumpet with my great friends and colleagues - Randy, Tom, Lew and Terell - is a privilege and a thrill,” Faddis said. “While we all have our different styles, we are looking forward to this special opportunity to play together. Each guest is bringing his own arrangements and the concert is going to be a blast.”
More info: chicagojazzensemble.com
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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