Ken Peplowski - In Search ofKen Peplowski shows his diversity on this blending of two sessions, the first 8 tunes reuniting him with pianist Shelly Berg with rhythm support of Tom Kennedy and Jeff Hamilton and the remaining 3 tunes pairing off with bassist Greg Cohen, drummer Joe Ascione and vibist Chuck Redd. Peplowski's clarinet playing is unrivaled with the purist tone and most urbane facility around today. His tenor sound, while reminiscent of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster

as well as on the harpsichord and the fortepiano

urges young people to say no to drugs and yes to education

only to realize that what he left behind is what he's been looking for all along

And while there is comedy in some of the scherzos

Act Naturally

There's a palpable feeling of not knowing where the young producer might go next

while the three movements of the jazz-tinged Second Violin Sonata are dedicated to her composition teacher William Bolcom

They Seek Him Here

as my studio is in the same building"

A bonus is Bach's "Break forth

even re-editions of volumes 1 and 2

The album features musical arrangements of the music of singer/songwriter John Denver