Transcription: Ken Peplowski's Solo on China Boy

[@kenpeps139]

I can't believe you did this - great job - thanks!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

You're the best, Ken! Thank YOU for your consistent high quality output of creative and swinging music!

[@saxodelic]

What you did at 4:41... Mind blowing!

[@robkunkel8833]

@@saxodelic … I saw your comment at 4:40. Amazing!

[@robertduis6730]

To play this like Ken is a miracle ....to transcribe all the notes Ken has been playing even a bigger miracle. Chapeau for both .... Ken and Ramsey!

[@robkunkel8833]

I haven’t had so much fun in years. Now to try to play along!

[@laurielyon7740]

Viewers my not be aware that Ken has been fighting an incurable cancer for over a year. He continues to work…..bravely. He is currently in remission. Needless to add…..keep up the fight, Ken. He is among the greatest of clarinetists. But more importantly he is by all accounts a very good guy.

[@BAMBOO-MONK]

Absolutely breathtaking! This is the best music I've heard in decades.

[@gladstonegirl4800]

FANTASTIC! Ken is unbelievable - and loved the piano and drums also...thanks Ramsey. WHAT A TREAT!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Thanks for watching and commenting, Gladstone Girl4! Glad enjoyed it!

[@tomslover7512]

Jazz may not be meant to be written down as it is in constant flux, and that's why it is a great art form. However, being able to read along with this snapshot of this unbelievable solo really gave me some insight into what he was doing to create this unforgettable playing. Many thanks for this.

[@Jaujau933]

Yes !!! 👏👏 piano player is also awesome !!

[@laurielyon7740]

Thanks for the transcription. Wonderful job. Fabulous musicians. And who among clarinet players is better than Ken Peplowski? IMHO.........nobody. Kudos to the other musicians, too!

[@Andonirubik]

@laurielyon7740 Check Martin Fröst and Anat Cohen. Ken is wonderful also.

[@MrHestichs]

It's scrolling so fast and the resolution is so low my poor damaged eyes can't see a thing :(

[@thierrywarot5792]

Absolument phénoménal et fantastique clarinettiste et orchestre

[@nicolasolmosolmos1657]

GREAT RENDERINGS !! A LOT OF CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE WONDERFUL MUSICIANS.THANKS FOR SHARING

[@hansharold]

Ramsey, thanks for the transcription

[@johnrothfield6126]

Amazing

[@7notasmusicais]

Man! Incredible transcription!

[@GabeStillman]

So cool that Aaron Sorkin is also a talented drummer!

[@jonluther8250]

absolutely incredible!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

+jon luther I agree! I'll never forget the first time heard this. Peplowski is a monster! Thanks for watching!

[@jonluther8250]

I love it with Travelin Light. That's where I heard it first.

[@nathanmcmath]

Yes, he plays nearly the same solo on an album with Travellin Light. Absolutely unbelievable.

[@db91977]

Amazing solo, and an excellent transcription, Ramsey! Inspirational!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Thanks, Doug!

[@thierrywarot5792]

Absolument sensationnel! Lorsqu'on veut acquérir des réflexes extrêmes, alors il faut pratiquer la musique et particulièrement la clarinette qui demande une virtuosité incroyable

[@kenweedon1620]

I really enjoyed this one. Many thanks. I shall keep playing this one.Ken weedon

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Great! Thanks for the comment, Ken!

[@yohannes80]

great work, great solo! thx a lot!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

+foiuno Thanks for watching, Foiuno!

[@ranjitkundu7919]

Great. Brings back memories...

[@fabriziorapastella4243]

Marveluos Ken!!

[@derycktrahair8108]

Thank you. That tempo is insane. (no more coffee for those guys).

[@DaveMcKeownMusic]

excellent

[@pastizzidimitri]

Fantastic!

[@FabioZurita]

Impressive, Peplowski's performance and your work!! Congratulations and thanks, Ramsey!!!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Yes -- Ken is incredible!! Thanks, Fabio!

[@raymondschroeder7270]

Ken is awesome!

[@francescopirrello675]

grande!

[@tablearevalo7921]

OOOOOOOOOO MAGNIFICO ESPECTACULAR BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO

[@hellodumzo]

At 0.75x speed, its more like a chill bop

[@pinoynobody211]

Finally found the music this was the dance music in Tom and Jerry's Zoot cat! :D

[@multifariousgemini]

Whattttt?!! 😮😮😮 WOW! 🤯

[@luislogarich9619]

Genial y gracias por subir la partitura Ramsey!

[@MegaGermanShepherds]

Wait wait wait! G way above the staff can be played on clarinet! Woah!!!!!! Mind blown! Everything on China Boy is extremely fast yet very fun to listen to! Wow I applaud them all for their wonderful performance! I can only make it up to an F a little bit, but I have no ideas for the fingerings for G. Ken did awesome!!!!

[@coloraturaElise]

Most real clarinetists go up the the C above that high G, and it is possible to play higher than that, though most do not.

[@MegaGermanShepherds]

Elise Curran Thanks for telling me. I may have started clarinet from 6th grade yet I am truly an oboist. So I had no idea.

[@hellodumzo]

0:55 is the start

[@WilfriedBerk]

WoW !

[@raymondschroeder7270]

I used to have a ligature like that

[@bobdillaber1195]

I need a ligature like that. If you still had it I'd ask to buy it from you but since you say you used to have it that means you don't still have it so I won't ask to buy it from you. So, I still want a ligature like that.

[@christiangutfleisch]

Mark Shane, piano; Dave Ratajczak, drums; no bass player!

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Wow -- you're right! No idea how I missed that! Thanks, Christian!

[@spencerking2455]

Does anyone know that tune that was playing at the beginning?

[@AllAbout78Records]

Sorry - Bix Beiderbecke

[@wxb200]

JEEZUS!

[@betomonstruoaguilar2525]

mil gracias, has transcrito mas cosas? cual es tu face book? pa compartir contigo algunas transcripciones.

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Thanks, Beto! More transcriptions/transcription videos are in the works. Here's my Facebook: facebook.com/ramsey.castaneda

[@RamseyCastaneda]

Download a PDF of this transcription here: www.ramseycastaneda.com/transcriptions/ken-peplowski/china-boy.html

[@jeffreyhodes]

why on earth would you make the notation scrolling instead of a sequence of static images

[@RamseyCastaneda]

I opted for the scrolling notation because I think it’s a fun way to visualize improvisation. Once you play it, it’s gone. It sort of (emphasis on "sort of") illustrates the mental processes of an improviser i.e. you can’t think too far ahead, and have to stay in the moment. It’s also a great way to illustrate Ken’s virtuosity, IMO. Ultimately, it was just a fun challenge, and figured I would upload it to KZbin to share with others. That said, I was expecting people would be able to play along, but unfortunately it’s much to fast/blurry, which is why I provided a normal PDF of the transcription for download (link in description). Thanks for commenting!

[@AshwinSax]

RamseyCastaneda

[@bobdillaber1195]

@@RamseyCastaneda I think it's perfect the way you did it!

[@thomassmith5400]

1:04

[@robkunkel8833]

a 62 bar improv

[@oldtrio1]

on china boy

[@WilfriedBerk]

Chinesischer Junge ! rsrs

[@joaoj1000]

Caralho

[@joehamilton4656]

That was great , but Benny did it first.

[@laurielyon7740]

I’m trying to understand why that might-might-be important.

[@raymondschroeder7270]

I used to have a ligature like that.