by Scott Yanow
Switching between tenor, clarinet and alto, Ken Peplowski is hard-swinging and consistently brilliant throughout this quintet set with guitarist Howard Alden, pianist Dave Frishberg, bassist John Goldsby and drummer Terry Clarke. The music is mostly mainstream swing, with the highlights including &Ring Dem Bells,& &When I Take My Sugar to Sea,& Sonny Stitt's &Sonny Side& and &Hallelujah.& As if to show that he is aware of later styles, Peplowski also does a good job on Rahsaan Roland Kirk's &Bright Moments,& Thelonious Monk's &Ugly Beauty& and Miles Davis' &Half Nelson.& Recommended.