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…
Raul Midón (left), Jimmy Greene, Kirk Whalum and Erroll Garner are set to be featured on Mack Avenues’ First Listen Fridays.
(Photo: Courtesy Mack Avenue)First Listen Fridays is a new series of weekly streaming videos from Mack Avenue, which aims to provide previews of upcoming albums, as well as discussions with and performances by musicians.
“In reaching out to our artists to offer support during unprecedented times, it was clear they are all of the same mindset: we must keep the music alive and adapt to a new climate,” Denny Stilwell, president of Mack Avenue Music Group, said in an email. “First Listen Fridays is a platform for them to connect and engage with their audiences in a new and exciting way.”
The second episode is set to stream 4 p.m. EST Friday and features Raul Midón, Jimmy Greene, Kirk Whalum and Erroll Garner. 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…
The success of Oregon’s first album, 1971’s Music Of Another Present Era, allowed Towner to establish a solo career.
Jan 19, 2026 5:02 PM
Ralph Towner, a guitarist and composer who blended multiple genres, including jazz — and throughout them all remained…
Hammond came to the blues through the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s, which he experienced firsthand in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Mar 2, 2026 9:58 PM
John P. Hammond (aka John Hammond Jr.), a blues guitarist and singer who was one of the first white American…
Rico’s Anti-Microbial Instrument Swab
Jan 19, 2026 2:48 PM
With this year’s NAMM Show right around the corner, we can look forward to plenty of new and innovative instruments…
Richie Beirach was particularly renowned for his approach to chromatic harmony, which he used to improvise reharmonizations of originals and standards.
Jan 27, 2026 11:19 AM
Richie Beirach, a pianist and composer who channeled a knowledge of modern classical music into his jazz practice,…
