Biography

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Contact: vizztone@gmail.com

-2008-

“He can play jazz, blues, Bach, anything. Man, he’s a heavy!”
– Gregg Allman

“This man is as good as it gets. One of the greatest keyboard artists I’ve ever heard.”
– John Hammond

“...Katz cooks up a brilliant marriage of blues, jazz, gospel and soul.”
– Bill Milkowski, Jazz Times

“A fiery live set from a respected ‘player’s player’ and his very tight road band.”
– Bob Margolin, blues guitarist and VizzTone co-Founder

Led by the critically acclaimed pianist and Hammond B-3 organist Bruce Katz, the Bruce Katz Band plays unique, very original instrumental music that explores many aspects of American Roots styles, while never losing its blues spirit and feeling. This powerful 4 piece band blends guitar and Hammond B3 organ together into a sound that is modern and yet traditional at its core.

The members of the Bruce Katz Band have played with many of the leading names in blues. Guitarist Chris Vitarello has played with Jimmy McGriff. Bass player Rod Carey played with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and Kenny Neal, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Hubert Sumlin and many others. Drummer Ralph Rosen has been a mainstay of the New England blues and jazz scene, regularly backing up touring artists in both blues and jazz, as well as playing with the Bruce Katz band for the past 11 years. Besides leading his own band, Bruce Katz is a very in-demand sideman, recently completing recording projects with Duke Robillard, Joe Louis Walker and John Hammond, to name a few.
Live! At The Firefly is the Bruce Katz Band’s sixth CD and finest album yet – a 12-song live CD performed by the touring band. It is very evident from hearing the explosive and exciting musical dynamic on this new album that these are musicians who have their own group sound and have been playing together for a long time. Eleven of these tunes are originals – eight are brand new and three are old favorites, spanning a wide spectrum of blues-related styles, from swinging shuffles to funky soul styles, slow blues and boogie-woogie. While the individual musicians are brilliant and exciting players, this album excels as a group effort, with each song telling a story and having layers of depth and melody.