Customer Reviews

Last Swing of Century

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay...okay...we all know from Ken Peplowski's past releases that here is a musician that isn't content to rest on his laurels. But Peps!...you're killing me here! How can this guy keep topping himself? If you would like to hear what Benny Goodman would be doing with the clarinet if he was alive today, give this a listen. I just have to wonder...what will Mr. Peplowski's next CD sound like? And, is it possible that he can achieve any higher level of skill on this difficult instrument. Swing never sounded so good!

I will admit that the first two times through Ken's tribute to BG I was a bit disconcerted. It was a little like hearing Barbra Streisand sing "Over The Rainbow." By the third time, I was hooked. This is a terrific album, with great musicianship all around. By allowing individual creativity on the part of all the soloists, Ken has managed to maitain the integrity of the arrangments while instilling a breath of frresh air into some material that has been around quite a while. His treatment of the three small-group pieces, "Moonglow," "Memories of You," and "China Boy," are worth the price of the album. Great job, Ken, Benny would be pleased.

I found this at an estate sale recently. For less than a dollar. Mint condition. Never heard of the artist, but I like Benny Goodman and his band members and arrangers. These are Goodman's arrangements but with the imaginative contributions of the current players. Great driving music, worth repeat listening, and a lot of tracks on here as well. You'll have to pay more than I did, but it will be worth it.

Clarinetist Ken Peplowski leads an all-star big band in a hard-driving set of classic Benny Goodman music recorded live in Tokyo. This does not sound like a stale tribute; indeed, the musicians seem genuinely invigorated by this music, the audience is appreciative, the engineers did a good job, and the end result is a CD that will delight those who still enjoy the music of the Swing Era.

I AM A BIG FAN OF BENNY GOODMAN, PEANUTS HUCKO, ETC. THIS RECORDING BRINGS THE GOODMAN RECORDINGS BACK TO LIFE WITH AN ORIGINALITY THAT IS ALL KEN'S. HE DOESN'T COPY THE MUSIC, BUT HE INTERPRETS IT WITH A NICE BEAT AND SOME EXCELLENT INDIVIDUAL SOLOS BY SOME TOP NOTCH ARTISTS. A VERY ENJOYABLE BIG BAND SOUND THAT BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO THE OLD STANDARDS.

How can I review this CD when the tunes aren't listed

I've been a Benny Goodman fan since 1969. I'd almost forgotten how great Fletcher Henderson's arrangements are. Ken Peplowski is a spooky sound and style clone, but with his own personal touches--very tasty. But, on this album his other soloists are disappointing. (The exception is the pianist, who doesn't get nearly enough chance to show off.) None matches Ken's energy, accuracy and ideas. Several are out of tune, behind the beat and "blatty"--a sign of a very tired wind player. The band is pretty tight and clean, but he might have held out for better live tracks. This album inspired me to buy more, but of BG's, not Ken's.