Highlights In Jazz Presents "A Salute to Ken Peplowski"

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NY Jack Kleinsinger's Highlights In Jazz, New York's longest running jazz concert series, continues it's 42nd season on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 8:00 PM at Tribeca Performing Arts Center at Borough Manhattan Community College, 199 Chambers Street, NY, 10007 with A Salute To Ken Peplowski, featuring the renowned reed man along with longtime colleague, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and tenor saxophonist Houston Person, pianist Derek Smith, bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott, and drummer/vibist Chuck Redd plus a surprise special guest.

A world renowned clarinetist/saxophonist and bandleader, Ken Peplowski will be the recipient of the Annual Highlights In Jazz Award which as been presented since 1974 to honor a singular living jazz musician for their "matchless musical achievements." Previous honorees have included Roy Eldridge, Lionel Hampton, Roy Haynes, Hank Jones, Maxine Sullivan, Frank Wess and Dr. Billy Taylor. Peplowski will be only the third clarinetist to receive this award, following fellow masters of the instrument Buddy DeFranco and Kenny Davern.

Highlights In Jazz producer Jack Kleinsinger notes, "We like to celebrate living jazz artists instead of memorial concerts when beloved artists are no longer with us. I have always preferred to celebrate them while they are alive and active so we can personally acknowledge their talent and artistry. My criteria for selecting artists to be honored are they have made an enormous contribution to the jazz art form and be loved and respected by their fellow artists and jazz aficionados alike."

Peplowski, one of the acknowledged masters of the clarinet will be making his 17th Highlights In Jazz appearance. The veteran reed man has made a name for himself as a bandleader with a series of critically acclaimed albums for Concord Jazz and other labels on which he has demonstrated his virtuosic ability on both the clarinet and tenor saxophone, performing a repertoire that while rooted in the swing tradition is contemporary in its approach and sound. Widely appreciated by his peers he's appeared on countless recordings as a sideman. A favorite of pianists and vocalists, his discography includes credits with keyboard masters Hank Jones, Dick Hyman, George Shearing and Bill Charlap, as well as a wide variety of singers, including Mel Torme, Barbara Carroll, Carol Sloane and Lucy Arnaz.

Joining Peplowski on the bandstand with be his longtime colleague and often times co-band leader, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, a previous Highlights Award honoree who will be making his 35th Highlights In Jazz appearance. Also appearing will be yet another previous honoree, pianist Derek Smith, making his 29th Highlights In Jazz appearance. Filling out the allstar assemblage will be another series regular, veteran tenor saxophonist Houston Person (making his 9th appearance on the Highlights stage) and two relatively young, widely talented newcomers, bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott and drummer/vibraphonist Chuck Redd (making her 7th and his 3rd appearance). As always there will be a surprise special guest.

The seasons series continues on Thursday, April 10, 2014 with an Evening of Cabaret Jazz featuring the celebrated duo of Barbara Carroll and Jay Leonhart and the great Andy Bey and concludes Thursday, May 8, 2014 with Brothers in Jazz featuring The Heath Brothers (Jimmy Heath and Albert "Tootie" Heath with Jeb Patton and David Wong) plus Peter and Will Anderson Performing Music of the Dorsey Brothers featuring Wycliffe Gordon.

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