Ken Peplowski - unheard bird (2024)

A collection of arrangements that Charlie Parker commissioned for strings but never got a chance to record. Charlie Parker recorded his classic Bird with strings arrangements while he was in his late twenties/early thirties, and was really proud of those recordings and expressed a desire to work more with a small string ensemble, harpist, oboist and rhythm section, but the economics even back then of traveling with anything besides a quintet were prohibitive. So this record will hopefully serve as a what if regarding the short-lived (1929-1955) yet prolific career of one of the undisputed geniuses of modern music - most of these arrangements would have served as a significantly more ambitious follow-up to the classic string recordings the listener already knows. Featuring Ken Peplowski, Clarinet and Tenor Saxophone, Terell Stafford, Trumpet, Glenn Zaleski, Piano, Peter Washington, Bass, Willie Jones III, Drums. Conducted by Loren Schoenberg, the orchestra features Rose Kow Xiu Yi - 1st Violin, Concertmaster, orchestral contractor, Tia Allen - 2nd Violin, Yoonjung Hwang - 3rd Violin, Kayla Williams - Viola, Robin Park - Cello, Elizabeth Steiner - Harp, Keve Wilson - Oboe.