Join The VSO for an Evening of Jazz at Warehouse 23 on March 24

Featuring Legendary Jazz Clarinetist and Saxophonist Ken Peplowski

[Vancouver, Washington, February 6, 2019] – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce the return of celebrated jazz clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski for the VSO 4th Annual Evening of Jazz live benefit concert and dinner at 5:30 pm on Sunday, March 24th at Warehouse 23 on the Vancouver waterfront. Mr. 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.

Experience Mr. Peplowski’s illustrious quartet as we transform Warehouse 23 into the Moulin Rouge – vast curtains of red, feathers, rhinestones, and sequins. Enjoy a catered evening of decadent Pacific Northwest cuisine, sparkling spirits, and red-hot jazz on a spacious dancefloor like the days of cabaret.

Tickets are $100, which include two complimentary tickets to the VSO April 13/14 Young Artists Concert.

• 4th Annual Evening of Jazz
• with Ken Peplowski
• Sunday, March 24th, 5:30pm
• Warehouse 23, 100 Columbia St. #102, Vancouver, WA 98660
• Tickets: $100

Proceeds from this event benefit The VSO’s Education Initiative, focusing on extensive music education outreach programs that serve to empower students, educators and adults in our community. Your partnership contributes to the profound impact we have on the lives of others, particularly those in underserved areas.

Concert Steinway piano generously provided by Michelle’s Pianos.

About Ken Peplowski

In 2013, Russell Davies of BBC2 said that “Ken Peplowski is arguably the greatest living jazz clarinetist.” A Cleveland, Ohio native, Ken and his trumpet-playing brother Ted made many local radio and TV appearances and played for Polish dances and weddings virtually every weekend all through high-school. “That’s where I learned to improvise, ‘fake’ songs, learn about chord changes, etc.- it’s exactly like learning to swim by being thrown into the water!” Peplowski signed with Concord Records, under the tutelage of Carl Jefferson, the founder and president, and recorded close to 20 albums as a leader, including “The Natural Touch” in 1992 which won Best Jazz Record of the Year by the Prises Deutschen Schallplatten Kritiken, and “The Other Portrait,” recorded in Sophia, Bulgaria with the symphony orchestra and highlighting Ken’s classical side. He also recorded two records on the Nagel Heyer label,”Lost In The Stars” and “Easy To Remember,” the latter of which features Bobby Short on his last recording. “I loved Bobby Short’s approach to the American songbook, and we’d talked about doing a record together for a while – I’m glad we got this one ‘in the can.’”

Ken Peplowski has recorded approximately 50 CDs as a soloist, and close to 400 as a sideman. He travels at least half of every year, playing clubs, concert halls, colleges, and pops concerts. He has headlined the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club amongst many other venues. Ken’s recorded the Darius Milhaud Clarinet Concerto with an orchestra in Sofia, Bulgaria, and was a featured soloist (playing Mozart) in 2015 at the Siletz Bay Music Festival in Oregon. Ken 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 into the Jazz Cruise Hall Of Fame in 2013. Ken’s new album, recorded for Capri is called “Enrapture”.

About The VSO

Now in its 40th season, The VSO has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing world-renowned classical music, promoting young musicians, and opening doors to classical music for young audiences through events such as the annual In-School concerts, Young Artists Competition and various family-styled special events and performances. A full-sized professional orchestra of over 70 core members provides performs a multi-concert classical season every year. Symphony performances are at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th Street, Vancouver.

About our Sponsors

The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, Morel Ink, All Classical Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The Community Foundation of SW Washington, The Columbian, The Heathman Lodge, PeaceHealth, and Michelle’s Pianos.