Ken Peplowski, the American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist whose warm swing and effortless phrasing made him a pillar of acoustic jazz, died on February 1, 2026. He was 66. Peplowski passed away aboard the Celebrity Summit while participating in The Jazz Cruise, where he was scheduled to perform and instead left the music world stunned by his sudden absence.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 1959, Peplowski built a career rooted in swing, mainstream jazz, and traditional pop, carrying those sounds into modern rooms without ever sanding off their character. He recorded extensively for Concord Records for more than a decade and became a musician other musicians quietly pointed to when talking about tone, taste, and time.
Peplowski was both prolific and precise. He released more than 70 albums as a leader and appeared on hundreds more as a sideman, moving easily between small-group swing, songbook material, and festival stages. His clarinet sound was instantly recognizable: full, woody, lyrical, and deeply conversational, while his tenor saxophone playing favored control and melody over volume.
Beyond recordings and performances, Peplowski shaped jazz spaces themselves. In 2007, he was named music director of the Jazz Party at The Shedd and jazz advisor for the Oregon Festival of American Music in Eugene, roles that reflected his belief that jazz could span eras and styles without losing its soul. He approached programming the same way he approached improvisation: with curiosity, respect, and intention.
Peplowski had battled multiple myeloma for five years, yet continued to perform, teach, and record, including his final releases ‘Live at Mezzrow’ and ‘Unheard Bird’. His legacy lives not just in an immense discography, but in the way he made swing feel alive, generous, and human. Jazz sounds better because Ken Peplowski was here.