Ken Peplowski-Swingin’ with Peps

[@FBWI]

I love Ken's playing. I saw him once live at a tiny club in Delaware. Wow! I have a lot of his albums.

[@cascais2011]

One of the greatest. So thoughtful and generous of him to share from his huge experience.

[@jaimesarasal4460]

Nice, open and clarifying conversation. I completely agree with Ken's approach to music, styles and instruments. Thanks

[@bethbartlett5692]

Thank you for sharing this. Ken's my fav clarinet artist, I feel the current best, and he's a great person.

[@ronaprea3669]

It took me a couple of days but I listened to this entire interview. How great to hear one of the masters covering all the musical bases and reminding us of some of those tenets that we may have forgotten along the way. Thanks for sharing Ken.

[@nathanmartin546]

Thank you for doing this important work. These interviews are gold!

[@theblueriverjazzbandmusic2540]

What an absolutely wonderful interview/talk. Thank you so much!

[@DaveBennettMusician]

Love your channel! Ken is the man!

[@MisterBigDave]

Great!! So much wisdom being shared!!

[@coloraturaElise]

I would love to hear an interview with you two just talking about Benny....that would be marvelous!

[@carlkulzer5982]

What chops. Ken is fantastic.

[@krissaxen3082]

Wonderfull !

[@coloraturaElise]

Wonderful player and musician, my favorite clarinetist of the current crop! I didn't know he studied voice, but I'm a clarinetist who became an opera singer on the side, and I TOTALLY agree with everything he says about studying singing and paying attention to how you're producing the sound, rather than what equipment you're using. My playing changed so much for the better after learning to sing, primarily in breathing, phrasing, expression, and also voicing...surprisingly many similarities between clarinet and soprano high note voicings.... and I have often used my knowledge to help my students understand about breathing and sound. I'm also seriously impressed that Mr. Joffe knew the story about Joan Sutherland teaching Pavarotti how to breathe! And then both of you talking about Mel Torme, my favorite male singer.....you guys are speaking my language! And so, this illustrates an important point: a lot of today's young jazz players are not well-versed in all types of music, and IT SHOWS!

[@coloraturaElise]

Oh, you did it again, talking about doublers who start on clarinet vs those who don't, and it's never really right....so true! The sax players I know who play good clarinet ALL had their first 2 or 3 years on clarinet, without exception.

[@coloraturaElise]

Oh, and about Artie Shaw vs Benny Goodman, I completely agree with everything you said! I play both of them in my big band, their original solos, and Benny just swings for me, while Artie is trying too hard and not succeeding.

[@jimrich4192]

Voice training (from a CD) did more for my horn playing than any woodwind lessons I ever had because voice training & proper use of the DIAPHRAM & breathing was finally learned & used effectively. One cannot sing nor play a horn well unless they know how to use the DIAPHRAM & sing from their GUTS, not the chest or throat.

[@emjay2045]

Portnoy BP03. 🤔 Nice VD white master 4.0’s. 😧 For jazz and legit .. I might just have to try it !

[@syoliver1982]

Really enjoy your podcasts. Heard Ken had some physical problems a while back. Wish you had asked him about that and how to deal with that as a musician.

[@laurielyon7740]

OK.........stay with me on this, but I’ve yet to view a performance or an interview with Ken Peplowski that I don’t find him engaging and down to earth. It’s wonderful for a performer as accomplished as is Ken Peplowski to be this approachable. I have been a lifelong admirer of Pete Fountain ( among others) and had placed him at the top of the greats. And it’s my understanding he was a really nice guy. And while I still think Pete Fountain was among the great clarinet players, I now have to say that Ken Peplowski is likely a more complete ( not sure that word is appropriate) player than was Pete Fountain. Now I’m in my 7th decade and I’ve come to realize (ok........I’m a slow learner!!) just because you love the music that a certain performer is playing, that doesn’t make the performer the best player. But having listened to a ton of Ken Peplowski over many years, I now think he’s perhaps the best clarinet performing today. And certainly among the greatest clarinetists of all time. Yes, that’s a big statement. Yes, another superlative from an admirer. Now I also realize my opinion is entirely subjective. However, I heard pretty much every famous clarinet player of note. (Mercifully, I wont list them.) I have a pretty serious library of clarinet players so I’d like to think my opinion isn’t lacking in veritas. So I do think that Ken Peplowski is just about as good as they get. I will now attempt step away from the lecture without falling on my face.

[@coloraturaElise]

I agree, there is no one close to him!

[@laurielyon7740]

@@coloraturaElise Hi Elise…..Hope all is well with you and yours. You may or may not be aware that Ken was diagnosed ( I think it was in 2022) with an incurable form of cancer. This on the heels of the struggles that all musicians endured during Covid. But this latest kick in the pants is more serious, I suspect. But, mercifully, he’s in remission and is back performing. I had a wonderful conversation with him 6 or 8 weeks ago. He called to thank me for a small favour. And he said he’s feeling better. I’d never spoken to him previously but it was like I’ve known him for years. So approachable, humble but with his oft displayed rapier-like wit. We laughed and exchanged funny stories……..at least I’d like to think mine were funny and he was gracious enough to laugh with conviction. What a talent and what a tremendous guy. Best regards, Laurie Lyon , Toronto.

[@lgojazz2801]

A Freemason handshake!!

[@hudsoncampos2201]

[@jazzgent]

What about Pete Fountain. One of the greats!