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Monthly Livestream #68 with Ken Peplowski!

Thank you all for tuning in to yesterday's very special livestream, featuring the great Ken Peplowski! Ken was generous and funny, as always, and played incredibly!

Here's the recording of the livestream, and a brief summary of events:

  • After a brief introduction, we spoke about our upcoming week at Birdland (Nov. 25-29, for those of you in NY!). This somehow led to a bit about transposing, and some nice stories about Hank Jones.

  • Then we played a version of "Strike Up the Band".

  • A bit about playing duo in general, then a discussion of a record of Ken's that I love: his duo record with Dick Hyman, "Counterpoint".

  • More about playing duo, and the differences between playing solo, duo, and quartet.

  • Ken shared some wisdom about the importance of being ourselves.

  • Some bandleading tips, and the importance of avoiding micromanagement

  • Then we played a version of a Hank Jones song called "Passing Time". Ken was on the original recording of this song from a great Hank Jones record called "Lazy Afternoon".

  • Then had a question about improvising together, and Ken and I played a free improvisation.

  • Then a version of the Duke Ellington ballad "Warm Valley".

  • Then had a question about Ken's Bird with Strings project, and a bit about how the "Unheard Bird" album was put together. (I'm honored to be on this album!)

  • And we wrapped things up with the Neal Hefti tune "Repetition", which is one of the famous cuts from Bird with Strings, as well as the usual closer for our Bird with Strings sets.

    Thank you again to Ken for joining us and sharing so much wisdom! Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

    Enjoy the rest of your Novembers, and see you next month!

    -Glenn