Jazz Meets the Great Brazilian Songbook

$36 – 7 & 9 PM

Sam Martinelli, a talented young Brazilian drummer recently teamed up with iconic American clarinetist/saxophonist Ken Peplowski to create a tribute to the music of Brazil. What they came up with became Jazz Meets the Great Brazilian Songbook, a recording that earned a 4-star DownBeat review. On Friday, May 10, they will bring their project to the Litchfield Jazz Presents/NEAAE Series at the Palace Theater’s Poli Club for two shows, at 7 and 9 PM.

The pair will be joined by jazz luminaries Martin Wind on bass and Ehud Asherie on piano, to present a jazzified collection of sambas, choros, bossa novas and classics from great Brazilian tunesmiths like Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ivan Lins, and Joao Gilberto.

Martinelli first came to America from Brazil as a protégé of the legendary trumpeter and Litchfield Jazz Camp faculty member, Claudio Roditi, to serve as a teaching assistant at the camp. He returned later to receive his Master’s degree from Queens College and settle in New York City. Now a composer and educator as well as an in-demand drummer, Martinelli, has worked with Hendrik Meurkens, Marcus McLaurine, Jay Leonhart, Itaiguara Brandão, Tomoko Ohno, Dr. Andre Thomas, and with Claudio Roditi until his death in 2020.

Ken Peplowski is one of the preeminent clarinetist/saxophonists in jazz today. He began playing with polka bands while still in elementary school, joined the Dorsey Orchestra in his teens and was hired by Benny Goodman in 1984. Ken has played on soundtracks for Woody Allen films and has collaborated with artists like Mel Torme, Leon Redbone, Peggy Lee, Madonna, and Rosemary Clooney. He can be heard on over 450 records. He appeared last June at the Poli on the Litchfield series as a special guest of pianist Joe Alterman.

Pianist Ehud Asherie has worked with Cecile McLorin Salvant, Wycliffe Gordon, Catherine Russell, John Piazzarelli and many others. His playing can be heard on the 2020 Grammy-winning soundtrack for HBO’s Boardwalk Empire. He has appeared twice with Ken Peplowski on the Litchfield Jazz Festival and with his own trio there in 2023.

Bassist Martin Wind has enjoyed a distinguished career as a member of the trios of Bill Mays, Dena DeRose, Bill Cunliffe, Ann Hampton Callaway, Ted Rosenthal,  and in the quartets of Matt Wilson and Ken Peplowski. He also tours with famed Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine. He has recorded and/or performed with Mstislav Rostopovitch, Lalo Schifrin, Monty Alexander, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, Toots Thielemans, Anat Cohen, Benny Green and many others. He teaches at New York and Hofstra Universities.