Search - Tommy Newsom, Ken Peplowski :: Feeling of Jazz

A Marvelous Throwback

mj5 | Harrisburg, PA USA | 04/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I stumbled across this album while looking for something else. I was familiar with Ken Peplowski's work and of course I remembered Tommy Newsom from the Carson Tonight Show (more on that later). After listening to the samples, I knew I had to have it. The arrangements here remind me so much of the classic recordings by Al Cohn and Zoot Sims, which I could listen to for hours on end. That's why I call this album a throwback -- they just don't make many records like this anymore. The combination of Tin Pan Alley standards and a swinging style give this album a truly classic feel. I especially enjoyed Tommy's and Ken's take on Horace Silver's "Opus de Funk," Tommy's own "Titter Pipes," and the dreamy Buddy Kaye/Billy Reid ballad "I'll Close My Eyes."A personal note about Tommy Newsom: Not only is he a top-notch musician and arranger, but he's also a very nice man. Way too many years ago, when the Carson show was taped in New York, my girlfriend and I (on our high school senior trip) were in the lobby of 30 Rock after the show was over. Being musicians, we wanted to meet some of the band members, particularly Doc Severinsen, Ed Shaugnessy, and Tommy. We got our wish, but Tommy actually took a few minutes to chat with a couple of starry-eyed teenagers when I'm sure all he wanted to do was go home and eat dinner. Tommy, if you read this, we appreciated your kindness and remember it to this day.There's no new ground broken on this album, but who cares? The joy is in listening to Tommy Newsom and Ken Peplowski play off of each other and their bandmates. Enjoy!"

Swinging CD

Norm Jambard | Nashua, NH | 07/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've known Tommy Newsom all the way back when he was in the Air Force music program back in the early fifties. He was the featured tenor man with the Airmen of Note and also wrote some great arrangements for that band. He is a gifted musician and is finally getting the recognition he deserves. Ken Peplowski is also a great tenor man with these two guys on one CD you can't go wrong. Hope Tommy keeps putting out more CDs."