Last Swing of Century
Ken Peplowski's tribute toBenny Goodman,Last Swing of the Century, will delight listeners who think of the great clarinetist and bandleader before they think ofBig Bad Voodoo Daddywhen someone mentions the wordswing. Recorded live in Japan on the last night of a 15-concert tour in 1998, this is classic swing at its finest, with Peplowski and a 13-piece big band tearing through classic arrangements written for the Goodman Orchestra by greats likeFletcher Hendersonand others. Peplowski succeeds in bringing this music to life, with each of these 16 tunes remaining faithful to the original versions but still allowing the soloists plenty of creative leeway to make this material their own. The top-caliber musicians (several of whom were members of Goodman's Orchestra at one time or another) do the formidable material justice. Highlights include Rickey Woodard's tenor sax solo on the hard-charging "King Porter Stomp" andFrank Vignola's astounding guitar playing on a duet performance of "China Boy" with Peplowski. But it's Peplowski, of course, with the biggest shoes to fill, and he responds to the challenge with vigor, sounding beautifully melodic on "Restless" and bursting with energy on "Don't Be That Way."--Ezra Gale