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…
From the opening notes of Live At The Quick (Columbia Records), Bela Fleck & the Flecktones present to their audience a rousing display of musicianship incorporating jazz, pop, bluegrass and elements of Indian, Asian and even classical music. Whether reveling in a monster jam or playing it straight during the melodies, the Flecktones reveal a talent bound by no rules, other than a spirit of boundless experimentation.
This concert CD and companion DVD, which offers a magnificent concert video experience plus numerous DVD extras, will be released on Feb. 26. The Flecktones, known for their live show, radiate during the nearly 80 minute set.
Much of the music performed during this concert was from the band’s Grammy Award-winning album Outbound. Fleck invited guest musicians who had played individually with the band in the past to come together for Live At The Quick, including tabla player Sandip Burman, steel pan player Andy Narell, bassoonist Paul Hanson, oboe player Paul McCandless and Tuvan throat singer Congar ol’Ondar.
In addition, on Feb. 26 the Flecktones will be back on the road playing theaters on the East Coast. Check the band’s web site, www.Flecktones.com, for complete tour dates. The band is also confirmed for the Oklahoma Blues Festival on May 3 and their annual spot at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival on June 21. This marks Fleck’s 20th consecutive year performing at the 28-year-old Colorado festival.
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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