Ken Peplowski - Last Swing Of The Century (1998)

The clarinet of Ken Peplowski, taken up in honor of Goodman, is brilliant on this hard-swinging set of performances by his orchestra and serves as an excellent example of what can be done and has been done to the keep the music of the Big Band Era fresh and vital. Last Swing Of The Century - Big Band Music of Benny Goodman captures the brilliant essence of Benny Goodman and is ever so essential.

Although the cliche that big bands will never come back is somewhat true, Ken Peplowski is the closest that some listeners near the end of this century will remember as bringing the music back to the ‘90s with taste, drive and creativity. Peplowski doesn’t compromise the artistic integrity of his mentor even though each soloist is playing in their own style, with no re-creations of solos from old records! Popular standards such as “Let’s Dance,” “Moon Glow,” “Bugle Call Rag,” “Don’t Be That Way,” and the “King Porter Stomp,” receive some of the very best arrangements they’ve ever had. On “Memories Of You,” Ken spotlights Bobby Pring’s trombone and the young, Frank Vignola’s mellow guitar. He duets with Vignola on one of Goodman’s favorites, “China Boy,” originally recorded with Teddy Wilson and Gene Krupa in 1936.

Tracklist:

01. Let's Dance
02. Hunkadola
03. Between The Devil And The Deep
04. King Porter Stomp
05. Moon Glow
06. Stealin' Apples
07. You Turned The Tables On Me
08. Bugle Call Rag
09. Don't Be That Way
10. Memories Of You
11. Restless
12. Get Happy
13. Sometimes I'm Happy
14. China Boy
15. Down South Camp Meetin'
16. Good-Bye