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…
Singer Natalie Cole recently signed a recording deal with Verve Records. The contract reunites her with Verve Music Group Chairman Tommy LiPuma, who produced Cole’s 1991 release Unforgettable.
“Working with Tommy again is like returning home,” Cole said. “He is so good with this kind of music. I feel very fortunate that he really understands what I do, which is evidenced by Unforgettable and the new album. We have grown together and we are very compatible. I am looking forward to more great work with Tommy and Verve,” she said of her move to the label.
“It is an honor to work with Natalie again after all these years,” LiPuma said. “I am thrilled that she has joined the Verve family and that she will be continuing in the great tradition of vocalists that have always been a cornerstone of Verve Records.”
Unforgettable earned six Grammy awards, including Album of the Year, and has sold over 14 million units worldwide. Cole and LiPuma are currently putting the finishing touches on Cole’s Verve debut, set for a fall 2002 release.
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…
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.
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“I play what I want and what I like,” said Andrew Cyrille. “I use my knowledge artistically and professionally.”
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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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For the better part of a year, rumors have been swirling that Wynton Marsalis was going to step down as artistic and…
