Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ken Peplowski: Noir Blue

Ken Peplowski: Noir Blue

By Martin Longley
May 13, 2010
View read count

In his liner notes, saxophonist/clarinetist Ken Peplowski reveals that after hitting fifty, he had no desire to make albums that are going through the motions of record company requirements. Not that such bodies are lately in a position to demand anything. He now intends to make recordings when the inspiration is strong and when the circumstances align in an encouraging fashion. A major part of this disc's genesis seems to be the rapport that Peplowski shares with pianist

Shelly Berg

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Shelly Berg. Also on hand are

Jay Leonhart

bass
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Jay Leonhart (bass) and

Joe La Barbera

drums
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe La Barbera (drums), both of whom navigate the common ground with equal ease.

A flurry of piano/clarinet exchanges push the album underway on Irving Berlin's "The Best Thing For You." It's a fluid dialogue of short solos, delivered at a confident speed. Peplowski chooses clarinet for the first three tunes, soon going soft for Berg's "Home With You" and Ellington/Strayhorn's "Bourbon Street Jingling Jollies." The first has a vaguely pan-Latin mood, softly gliding while the second is gentler than might be expected, but still continuing the sensitive thoughtfulness. Peplowski's flute-like phrases are embellished by delicate-but-emphatic piano, as La Barbera's drums make their clicking curlicues.

Four tracks in and Peplowski brings out his meatier tenor saxophone, sounding like the DNA-tested son of

Coleman Hawkins

saxophone, tenor
1904 - 1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Coleman Hawkins.

Hoagy Carmichael

piano
1899 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Hoagy Carmichael's "Riverboat Shuffle" has a strongly nostalgic feel and the tender balladry resumes for "Love Locked Out." La Barbera provides "If Not For You," which is more of a bebopper, complete with his own climactic (and inevitable) drum solo.

A

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn twosome begins with "Multi-Colored Blue," the slowest slink of all, and by this time Peplowski has picked up his predominant clarinet. Berg implies a gospel root and the ooze continues through the title cut. The album is a well-paced entity, as "Nobody Else But Me" turns up as a toughened tenor swinger.

Peplowski penned the closing tune, "Little Dogs," inspired by

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman. It's not as free as he seems to think, but this doesn't detract from its worth. There's more tenor with bite, but the breakdowns, exchanges and time-swerves suggest a significant degree of premeditation. It remains an atypical piece, though, and provides a fitting close to such a mood-swinging sequence. Peplowski has delivered another one of his perfectly poised examples of good taste. Fortunately, this well-behaved nature never leads to the good becoming the neutered.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

The Best Think for You; Home With You; Bourbon Street Jingle Jollies; Riverboat Shuffle; Love Locked Out; If Not For You; Multi-colored Blue; Noir Blue; Nobody Else But Me; Little Dogs.

Personnel

Ken Peplowski

woodwinds

Shelly Berg

piano

Jay Leonhart

bass

Joe La Barbera

drums

Album information

Title: Noir Blue | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Capri Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

100 Years Of Django
< Previous

Jazzhus Montmartre: The Legend Conti...
Next >

Ken Peplowski Concerts

Nov 15 Sat

Ken Peplowski

Attucks Theatre
Norfolk, VA

Nov 21 Fri

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Clearwater, FL

Nov 22 Sat

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Clearwater, FL

Nov 23 Sun

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Sheraton Sand Key Resort
Clearwater, FL

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.