Ken Peplowski (May 23, 1959 – February 2, 2026) was an American clarinetist in the mainstream jazz genre. He also occasionally played tenor and alto saxophone.

Life and Work

Peplowski began performing publicly at the age of 10, initially playing in the family orchestra (his brother Ted played trumpet) and in polka bands in the Cleveland area. During high school, he turned to jazz. From 1978 to 1980, he toured with Tommy Dorsey's "Ghost Orchestra," led by Buddy Morrow (alto saxophone, but also clarinet), who had heard Peplowski and his quartet perform at a jazz festival in Cleveland. During these tours, he also had the opportunity to study with Sonny Stitt. In 1980, he moved to New York City, where he played in various styles of jazz.

From 1984, Peplowski was a tenor saxophonist with the Benny Goodman Orchestra (revived by Benny Goodman two years before his death). He described Goodman, with whom he is often compared,[3] as an extremely tough bandleader who was just as hard on himself as on others, and with whom he got along well.[4] From 1987, he recorded for Concord Records, accompanying Mel Tormé and Rosemary Clooney; he recorded over 20 albums as a leader, including duets with guitarists Howard Alden and Diego Figueiredo.

He also released albums on Nagel-Heyer and Arbors Records, such as Unheard Bird (2024). Peplowski can be heard on the soundtracks of several Woody Allen films. In 2007, he became a jazz consultant for the Oregon Festival of American Music and directed the jazz parties at the John G. Shedd Institute of the Arts in Eugene, Oregon. He can also be heard on Randy Sandke's New York tribute, *Uptown Lowdown: A Jazz Salute to the Big Apple* (2000), and Rebecca Kilgore's album *Rebecca Kilgore with the Keith Ingham Sextet* (2001).

Discography
- Maybe September (2013)
- Unherd Bird (2024)
- Live at Mezzrow (2024)

Awards and Recognition
- His album "The Natural Touch" received the German Record Critics' Award in 1992.

Frank Vignola's Guitar Night with Ken Peplowski & Pasquale Grasso October 29th, 2025

Frank Vignola and Ken Peplowski - Tiger Rag

Body and Soul - Ken Peplowski / Victor Goines 2018