by Scott Yanow
Ken Peplowski on clarinet and tenor is a superb swing-based soloist who has taken elements from several classic players, fusing them together in his own strangely familiar but fairly original style. Peplowski's clarinet solo on this CD's version of the cooking &June Night& seems to shout out &Benny Goodman Lives!& &If We Never Meet Again,& &Alone Together& and a delightful rendition of &Panama& are taken as stirring duets with guitarist Howard Alden. Other selections feature Peplowski in a quintet also including pianist Junior Mance, bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Alan Dawson. The leader's tenor on &Jim Dawgs& and the romantic &Nancy& are additional highlights of this easily recommended mainstream set.