The Talented Ken Peplowski Quartet will perform straight ahead familiar jazz favorites that will encompass mainstream and traditional jazz, jazz swing and music from the Great American Songbook. The group includes leader Ken Peplowski on saxophone and clarinet, Josh Nelson on piano and keyboards, Katie Thiroux on bass, and Matt Witek on drums. Veteran Ken Peplowski is a master woodwind soloist who will be accompanied by 3 of L.A.’s most talented, in-demand young musicians on the L.A. jazz scene, showcasing their skills as world class performers, deeply rooted and steeped in the vast history of jazz music.
Woodwind specialist, Ken Peplowski has recorded 70 CDs as a soloist, and nearly 400 CDs as a sideman. Ken has performed or recorded with Charlie Byrd, Scott Hamilton, Mel Torme, Howard Alden, Rosemary Clooney, Scott Robinson, Erich Kunzel and The Cincinnati Pops, Hank Jones, Peggy Lee, Bill Charlap, Woody Allen, Benny Goodman, and Madonna. Ken plays at least 6 months each year at clubs, colleges, and pop. jazz, classical concerts. Ken has headlined at The Hollywood Bowl, in Las Vegas, at The Newport Beach Jazz Party, and in N.Y. at Carnegie Hall, The Birdland Jazz Club, The Blue Note Jazz Club, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, amongst other venues. Ken has recorded Italian and French folk songs, mainstream, swing, and avant-garde jazz, pop, and classical music. Ken has been the music director for The Oregon Festival Of American Music, performed and consulted for the popular “Jazz Cruise”, and was elected into The Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame. Ken has followed in Benny Goodman’s footsteps, evolving, listening to new music, refining his sound, polishing his craft, and expanding his
musical purview into the 21st century. Ken has performed with many music greats like Tommy Dorsey, Buddy Morrow, Bobby Short, Marianne Faithful, Issac Delgado, Leon Redbone, George Shearing, Dave Frishberg, Tom Harrell, James Moody, Cedar Walton, Houston Person, Harry Allen, Diego Figuereido, Dick Hyman, Suzanne McCorkle, Nicki Parrott, Randy Sandke, Loren Schoenberg and many others.
Pianist, composer, educator, and bandleader, Josh Nelson, has performed with Kurt Elling, John Pizzarelli, Benny Golson, Shiela Jordan, John Clayton, George Mraz, Jeff Hamilton, Dave Koz, Joe Chambers, Peter Erskine, Natalie Cole, Gaby Moreno, Freda Payne, Alicia Olatuja, Sara Gazarek, Richard Galliano, Tom Scott, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Christian Howes, Seamus Blake, Anthony Wilson, and many others. Josh was a semi-finalist in the Thelonious Monk Jazz Piano Competition, and has taught at Soka University, and Cal State Northridge University. Josh has recorded 6 CDs as a leader, and his virtuosity includes the bluesy tradition of Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, and a modern clean-burning mode of jazz.
Bassist, vocalist, composer, and educator, Katie Thiroux, is an in-demand performer who sings and plays bass at the same time. Katie received best album award in 2018 by Down Beat magazine, and also was named best rising star of 2018 and 2019. Katie teaches master classes and gives workshops, started The Jazz Maui Camp in Hawaii, and directs “Women In Jazz” for The Monterey Jazz Festival. Katie has become the #1 selling recording artist for Capri Records, and will perform at The 2020 SF Jazz “Women In The Lead”. Katie’s playing style follows in the tradition of jazz bass masters Ray Brown and John Clayton, and her singing is inspired by vocalists
Anita O’Day, Chet Baker, and Ella Fitzgerald. Katie has studied with jazz greats, Tierney Sutton and John Clayton, received The Shelly Manne “New Talent Award”, received The Phil Ramone Presidential Scholarship to Berklee College Of Music, and has taught at The Berklee International School in Ecuador. Katie completed her masters degree in jazz bass from Cal State University, Long Beach on full scholarship, and has worked with Larry Fuller, Justin Kaufin, Bill Cunliffe, Geri Allen, Helen Sung, Tamir Hendelmen, Eric Reed, Brian Lynch, Terrell Stafford, Jeff Clayton, Charles McPherson, Mundell Lowe, Larry Koonse, Terri Lyne Carrington, Lewis Nash, Jeff Hamilton, Patti Austin, Niki Harris, Tierney Sutton, Graham Dechter, Roger Neumann, and many others. Katie has performed at over 130 venues in the U.S. and Internationally.
Drummer Matt Witek graduated from Berklee College Of Music, has studied with drumming great Jeff Hamilton, and received his masters degree from Cal State University, Long Beach on full scholarship. Matt has worked with John Pizzarelli, John Clayton, Larry Fuller, Justin Kauflin, Tom Scott, Russell Malone, Houston Person, Ralph Moore, Scott Hamilton, Eric Reed, Barbara Morrison, Harry Allen, James Morrison, Bucky Pizzarelli, Larry Koonse, Anthony Wilson, Shelley Berg, Tony Monaco, Tamir Hendelmen, Bill Cunliffe, Rossanno Sportello, Chuck Redd, Ben Wolfe, Woody Herman, Roger Neumann, and with big bands at Capitol Studios.
Matt has performed all over the U.S., Canada, Europe, and South America. Matt is an active music educator and teaches at The Jazz Maui Camp.
