Remembering Ken Peplowski
May 23, 1959 – February 1, 2026
The great clarinetist is remembered
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Clarinetist and tenor-saxophonist Ken Peplowski passed away on Feb. 1, 2026 at the age of 66.
He was born on May 23, 1959 in Cleveland, Ohio, began playing the clarinet early on (having his first gig while still in elementary school), and gained experience playing locally at Polish weddings and dances in addition to working on radio and television.
Peplowski developed so quickly that he was teaching at a local music store while still in high school, playing in his school’s stage bands, and working in jazz clubs.
After a year in college, he toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (led by Buddy Morrow) as a lead altoist, had lessons with Sonny Stitt, and in 1980 moved to New York.
Peplowski made his recording debut in 1984 with the Bad Little Big Band and Loren Schoenberg, played tenor with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, and then signed with the Concord label, leading nearly 20 albums for the company and heading sets for other companies in the years since.
Peplowski was one of the top jazz clarinetists for decades and a very good tenor-saxophonist who was a regular at jazz parties, festivals, cruises, clubs, and record dates.
He appeared on over 200 recordings and, while his background was in swing and trad jazz, he never settled on only one idiom, sometimes playing modern jazz or classical; among those whose music he uplifted were Woody Allen, Mel Torme, Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, Dave Frishberg, Rosemary Clooney, James Moody, Steve Allen, and even Madonna.
Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021, he continued playing while battling the illness, never losing his viable sense of humor.
Ken Peplowski performed at a jazz cruise just hours before his sudden passing.
From 2018, he is featured on a duet version of “Cherokee” with guitarist Diego Figueiredo.
-Scott Yanow
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