December 11, 2024

[Vancouver, WA. December 11, 2024] – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA is thrilled to announce the return of legendary jazz clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski to its annual Evening of Jazz concert and dinner on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 6:00 pm, at the AC Hotel in Vancouver, WA. Adding to the excitement, the evening will feature an all-star lineup of incredible musicians, including GRAMMY-nominated pianist Randy Porter, guitarist David Captein, and drummer Jason Palmer. But that’s not all! Niki Haris, renowned backup vocalist for the iconic Madonna, will join the ensemble, bringing her powerhouse voice to elevate the evening’s performances.

Ken Peplowski is an award-winning artist and has played with legendary musicians from Mel Torme and Peggy Lee to Madonna. From polka bands to the Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey Orchestras and eventually Dixieland and jazz, Ken Peplowski has done it all. Niki Haris, a versatile singer, dancer, actress, and choreographer, is best known for her 18-year collaboration with Madonna, as well as her vocal work and recordings with jazz legends like Joe Sample and the Jazz Crusaders, Ray Charles, Mick Jagger, Whitney Houston, and Sheryl Crow. Additionally, Haris has performed on major stages from Carnegie Hall and Wembley Stadium to singing at the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. The evening also features musicians Randy Porter, David Captein, and Jason Palmer who bring an unmatched level of talent and experience, having shared the stage with jazz legends throughout their careers.

Enjoy a catered evening of delectable cuisine, world-class jazz music courtesy of Ken Peplowski, Randy Porter, David Captein, Jason Palmer, and Niki Harris, and support Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA at this always-popular event.

Tickets will be $150, on sale January 6, 2025 at vancouversymphony.org

What: 2025 Evening of Jazz with Ken Peplowski, Randy Porter, David Captein, Jason Palmer, and Niki Haris
When: Saturday, March 22, 2025, doors at 5:15 PM, event begins at 6:00 PM
Where: AC Hotel, 333 W Columbia Way, Vancouver, WA 98660
Tickets: $150; Tables of 8: $1200

For tickets and more information please visit vancouversymphony.org or call (360) 735 -7278

About Ken Peplowski
Clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski is well known to the Vancouver audience from the VSO’s critically acclaimed annual Evening of Jazz. Since 2016, Peplowski has returned every year by popular demand to delight the audience with his incredible artistry in front of sold-out houses. Peplowski has recorded over 70 CDs as a soloist, and close to 400 as a sideman – some of the artists he has performed/recorded with include Charlie Byrd, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, Peggy Lee, and Madonna. He has headlined the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club among other venues. He was a featured soloist playing Mozart in 2015 at the Siletz Bay Music Festival in Oregon and premiered a new concerto in 2016, written for him by Dick Hyman. Peplowski was the Musical Director of the Oregon Festival of American Music (OFAM) for eight years and is a longtime performer/consultant to The Jazz Cruise, where he was elected to the Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame in 2013.

Peplowski is currently the Artistic Director of the Sarasota Jazz Festival, the Newport Beach Jazz Party, and the Oregon Coast Jazz Party in Newport, Oregon.

About Randy Porter
Jazz pianist Randy Porter has a refined understanding of improvisation and the spontaneous communication between musicians. As a Steinway Artist, Randy Porter draws from a rich palette of sonorities found within his imagination and the depths of the piano. Lynn Darroch of The Oregonian states, “Porter has built a reputation as a musician’s musician, a knowledgeable, inventive, and sophisticated player with a remarkable sense of time and gorgeous keyboard facility…”

Nominated for the 60th Grammy Awards, Randy’s recent release Porter Plays Porter with Nancy King is a mix of swing, wit, harmony and lyrical adventure. In the spirit of Cannonball Adderley and Nancy Wilson, tunes featuring Nancy King are interspersed with instrumental tracks featuring the Randy Porter Trio. The vehicle for improvisation is the master songwriter Cole Porter, with the exception of Inside Your Mind, a ballad written by Randy Porter. Legendary vocalist Nancy King joins the Randy Porter Trio: Randy, piano; John Wiitala, bass; and Todd Strait on drums.

Randy Porter has performed with many jazz greats, including Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, and Benny Golson. He currently performs with Charles McPherson, Madeline Eastman, the New York Voices, Rebecca Kilgore and Nancy King.

About David Captein
Dave Captein is an accomplished performer on both string bass and bass guitar, having worked as a professional musician for over 35 years in the Pacific Northwest. A Portland native, he studied with Alice Leyden (Portland Opera Orchestra), Herman Jobelmann (Principal, Oregon Symphony), Ring Warner, James Harnett (Principal, Seattle Symphony) and Chuck Deardorf (Seattle Jazz Bassist). A music graduate of Western Washington University and the University of Washington, where he was awarded a composition scholarship, Dave has performed in a broad range of situations, from symphonic performances to studio and club work, as well as many jazz concerts and festivals around the country and in Europe.

He has worked with many well known jazz artists. He freelances in the Portland area, and is a very active member of the music community there, frequently appearing in the city's many clubs and concert venues, as well as recording studios. He is a favorite choice for the region's many bandleaders and always in demand for his solid sound, time and feel, as well as his soloing abilities. He has played on numerous local artists' CD's, as well as nationally distributed releases by Tom Grant and Jessica Williams. He has also been a long time instructor, having taught at the University of Oregon for 10 years, he now teaches privately from his home in S.E. Portland and at Lewis and Clark College.

About Jason Palmer
With over 20 years of professional playing experience, Jason Palmer has played in many musical settings ranging from the small jazz club setting of the famed Baked Potato in Los Angeles to the 40,000 fans at the Creation Festival in Mount Union, PA. Palmer studied with Dave Bayer, Fred Dinkins, Richie Garcia, Ralph Humphrey, Taka Numazawa, Tiki Pasillas, Joe Porcaro, Ralph Razze, Casey Scheurell, Efrain Toro and has performed or recorded with many musical greats including Kyle Eastwood, Ricky Minor, David Garfield, James Raymond, and Alex Wurman. After graduating Outstanding Student of the Year at P.I.T. in Hollywood, Palmer continued to gig, record, and teach. While excelling at all styles, his specialty leans more toward the funkier side of groove playing, as well as programming and playing with various loops and sequences.

About Niki Haris
Niki Haris is a multi-talented singer, dancer, actress and choreographer. She is the daughter of GRAMMY Award-nominated jazz pianist Gene Harris. Best Known as “The BIG VOICE” behind Madonna for over 18 years, appearing alongside her in the movie “Truth or Dare” and many of her videos. Her vocal collaborations include working Jazz greats like Stanley Turrentine, Joe Sample and the Jazz Crusaders to recordings with Ray Charles to Mick Jagger and from Whitney Houston to Sheryl Crow, and many others. Her voice is heard on soundtracks of major motion pictures and television themes, including the FOX series “Dark Angel”, which she co-wrote and performed. From Carnegie Hall to Wembley Stadium, she has played them all! She has continued her love for jazz, releasing 2 new JAZZ collaborations in 2016 “Time and Rhyme” with EC3 and “I’m Glad There is You” with Wycliffe Gordon and in 2018 released her inspirational CD “Lift Thine Eyes”. Niki remains a favorite featured artist throughout the International Jazz Festivals and The Blue Note At Sea Festivals. Besides being called to sing for the Inauguration of President Barrack Obama (performing with WILL. IAM) and not one to shy from a challenge, Niki continues to share her gifts for a multitude of benefits for AIDS Research, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) as well as, Camp Harmony, benefiting the lives of inner-city children.

About The VSO
The VSO, now in its 46th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington's arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community. For more information, please visit vancouversymphony.org.

About our Sponsors
The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Realvest Foundation, Oregon Public Broadcasting, AC Hotel by Marriott, United Grain Corporation, Columbia Credit Union, All Classical Radio, Gravitate, Dick Hannah Dealerships, The Columbian, Michelle’s Piano Co., Pacific Office Automation, Steinway & Sons Portland, and The VIC.

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THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PO BOX 525 VANCOUVER, WA 98666 PHONE 360-735-7278 FAX 360-906-0355
www.vancouversymphony.org