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…
Tomasz Stańko (1942-2018)
(Photo: Andrzej Tyszko)According to Reuters, the influential Polish trumpeter Tomasz Stańko died Sunday at the age of 76.
Performers took to social media to express their appreciation for his work, which stretches back to the 1960s when Stańko performed in groups helmed by Polish pianist Krzysztof Komeda.
R.I.P. Tomasz Stanko ! Thank you for the love, inspiration and encouragement over the years.
— Ambrose Akinmusire (@amBROSEire) July 29, 2018
Just heard that trumpeter Tomasz Stanko has died after a courageous fight against illness for some time. He was a unique musician with deep feelings and a gentle soul. #tomaszstanko
— Dave Holland (@TheDaveHolland) July 29, 2018
Read an interview from the DownBeat archives with the trumpeter 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…
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,…