Bruce Katz
Encyclopedia
Bruce Katz is an American
musician, playing piano, organ and bass guitar. Since 1996, he has been on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music
in Boston
as an associate professor.
. He then decided to concentrate on piano and Hammond organ
, and in particular, jazz and blues music. After playing jazz in Boston, he got the opportunity to play bass guitar for Big Mama Thornton
. This reconnected him with his love of Blues music, which has been his main musical genre since that time. From that band, Katz moved on to play with Barrence Whitfield
and the Savages. While in this band, Katz had the opportunity to tour all over Europe and the U.S., playing clubs, festivals and making television appearances.
From Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Katz moved on to playing Organ and piano as well as writing and co-writing material for Ronnie Earl
and the Broadcasters. By this time, Katz had been on several different recording sessions with the bands he had played with as well as special guesting on sessions for other artists.
While with Ronnie Earl, Katz had not only formed his own band and began recording on the Sledgehammer Blues
(formerly AudioQuest Music) label but was still maintaining the touring schedule with the Broadcasters. After leaving the Broadcasters in 1997 to concentrate on the Bruce Katz Band, Katz has maintained his own touring schedule, and released a total of six CDs, while also recording and touring with many other artists, such as Duke Robillard
, Joe Louis Walker
, Debbie Davies
, David "Fathead" Newman, John Hammond
and others.
Currently, in 2009, Katz is a regular member of Gregg Allman and Friends
, the John Hammond Quartet and continues to tour with his own group, The Bruce Katz Band. He also toured in 2009 with the Allman Brothers, playing piano. He is a 2009 Blues Music Award nominee (formerly called the W.C. Handy Award) for "Pinetop Perkins
Piano Player of the Year", an award he was nominated for in 2008 as well. In 2009 he also released an album that he co-lead with saxophonist Joel Frahm, called Project A. It was an instrumental
tribute to Aretha Franklin
, featuring a nine piece band, including Franklin's original bassist and current Gregg Allman Band bassist Jerry Jemmott
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician, playing piano, organ and bass guitar. Since 1996, he has been on the faculty at the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
as an associate professor.
Biography
Katz commenced his musical career playing piano and bass guitar with various bands in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. He then decided to concentrate on piano and Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, and in particular, jazz and blues music. After playing jazz in Boston, he got the opportunity to play bass guitar for Big Mama Thornton
Big Mama Thornton
Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton was an American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter. She was the first to record the hit song "Hound Dog" in 1952. The song was #1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks in 1953. The B-side was "They Call Me Big Mama," and the single sold almost two million...
. This reconnected him with his love of Blues music, which has been his main musical genre since that time. From that band, Katz moved on to play with Barrence Whitfield
Barrence Whitfield
Barrence Whitfield is an American soul and R&B vocalist and best known as the singer of Barrence Whitfield and the Savages in the 1980s.-Life and career:...
and the Savages. While in this band, Katz had the opportunity to tour all over Europe and the U.S., playing clubs, festivals and making television appearances.
From Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, Katz moved on to playing Organ and piano as well as writing and co-writing material for Ronnie Earl
Ronnie Earl
Ronnie Earl is an American blues guitarist and music instructor.-Career:Earl collected blues, jazz, rock and soul records while growing up. He studied American History at C.W...
and the Broadcasters. By this time, Katz had been on several different recording sessions with the bands he had played with as well as special guesting on sessions for other artists.
While with Ronnie Earl, Katz had not only formed his own band and began recording on the Sledgehammer Blues
Sledgehammer Blues
Sledgehammer Blues is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment that was formerly named AudioQuest Music.From the label’s website, “The blues label was founded in the late 1980s with the mission to create the highest standard audiophile recordings based on the technology available...
(formerly AudioQuest Music) label but was still maintaining the touring schedule with the Broadcasters. After leaving the Broadcasters in 1997 to concentrate on the Bruce Katz Band, Katz has maintained his own touring schedule, and released a total of six CDs, while also recording and touring with many other artists, such as Duke Robillard
Duke Robillard
Michael John "Duke" Robillard is an American blues musician.After playing in various bands and working for the Guild Guitar Company, he co-founded the band Roomful of Blues with pianist Al Copley in 1967. He has also been a member of The Fabulous Thunderbirds which included Kim Wilson, replacing...
, Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker
Joe Louis Walker, also known as JLW is an American musician, best known as a electric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. A feature of his work is his recourse to older material or playing styles, which revealed his knowledge of blues history.-Career:Joe Louis Walker was born in San...
, Debbie Davies
Debbie Davies
Debbie Davies is an American blues guitarist.She has been the featured guitarist in several female based bands including Maggie Mayall and the Cadillacs , and Fingers Taylor and the Ladyfinger Revue...
, David "Fathead" Newman, John Hammond
John P. Hammond
John Paul Hammond is an American blues singer and guitarist. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as "John Hammond, Jr.".-Background:...
and others.
Currently, in 2009, Katz is a regular member of Gregg Allman and Friends
Gregg Allman Band
The Gregg Allman Band, also known as Gregg Allman & Friends, is a Southern rock/blues rock group that Gregg Allman established and has led since the 1970s, during periods when Allman has been recording and performing separate from the Allman Brothers Band and has chosen not to perform exclusively...
, the John Hammond Quartet and continues to tour with his own group, The Bruce Katz Band. He also toured in 2009 with the Allman Brothers, playing piano. He is a 2009 Blues Music Award nominee (formerly called the W.C. Handy Award) for "Pinetop Perkins
Pinetop Perkins
Joseph William Perkins , known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music...
Piano Player of the Year", an award he was nominated for in 2008 as well. In 2009 he also released an album that he co-lead with saxophonist Joel Frahm, called Project A. It was an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
tribute to Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, featuring a nine piece band, including Franklin's original bassist and current Gregg Allman Band bassist Jerry Jemmott
Jerry Jemmott
Gerald Joseph Stenhouse "Jerry" Jemmott is an American bass guitarist. Also known as Gerald "Fingers" Jemmott, Rasan Mfalme or "the Groovemaster", Jemmott was one of the chief session bassists of the late 1960s and early 1970s, working with many of the period's well known soul, blues, and jazz...
.
Discography
| Title | Release | Record label |
|---|---|---|
| Crescent Crawl | 1992 | Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment that was formerly named AudioQuest Music.From the label’s website, “The blues label was founded in the late 1980s with the mission to create the highest standard audiophile recordings based on the technology available... |
| Transformation | 1994 | Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment that was formerly named AudioQuest Music.From the label’s website, “The blues label was founded in the late 1980s with the mission to create the highest standard audiophile recordings based on the technology available... |
| Mississippi Moan | 1997 | Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment that was formerly named AudioQuest Music.From the label’s website, “The blues label was founded in the late 1980s with the mission to create the highest standard audiophile recordings based on the technology available... |
| Three Feet Off The Ground | 2000 | Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues Sledgehammer Blues is an independent record label owned by Valley Entertainment that was formerly named AudioQuest Music.From the label’s website, “The blues label was founded in the late 1980s with the mission to create the highest standard audiophile recordings based on the technology available... |
| A Deeper Blue | 2004 | Severn Records Severn Records Severn Records is an American independent record label that concentrates on blues music. Since its founding in 1998, Severn has issued more than 50 albums. Its motto is "Roots Music for the 21st Century".-History:... |
| Live! At the Firefly | 2008 | Brown Dog Music / VizzTone |
External links
- Bruce Katz Band
- http://www.browndogmusic.com
- http://www.oceansidetalent.com