Product Review

Throughout his career, Ken Peplowski has been categorized by most critics as a traditional jazz musician and heir to the Benny Goodman throne. His new recording, Noir Blue, shows that he is more diverse as a player and composer. Doubling on clarinet and tenor saxophone, Peplowski weaves through beautifully arranged and seldom heard tunes by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Irving Berlin and others as well as originals by fellow band mates Shelly Berg and Joe La Barbara. Peplowski's compositional contribution is Little Dogs, inspired by Ornette Coleman and titled from a quote by Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov.