7/1/09
Lots of news...."Live! at the Firefly" has been out for 8 months, reaching #11 on the Living Blues Radio Chart and getting great reviews everywhere. The BKB has been touring, the next major tour will be in Florida and the South in October.
Also, I just recorded a very exciting CD, called "Project A", for Anzic Records. This CD has me and saxophonist Joel Frahm as leaders and is all Aretha Franklin associated music. The album features 2 drummers, two bass players and 3 horn players, occasionally all playing together! The personnel: Marty Ballou, acoustic bass, Jerry Jemmott, electric bass, Lorne Entress, drums, Ralph Rosen, drums, Chris Vitarello, guitar, BK, organ and piano, Joel Frahm, tenor sax, Jay Collins, baritone sax and Kenny Rampton, trumpet.
This CD sounds amazing and will be coming out August 26. The "Project A" band will be playing gigs out in the world so keep on the lookout!
I'm out playing this summer with Maria Muldaur, Gregg Allman, John Hammond, Jaimoe's Jassz Band the Bruce Katz Band - life is good!
8/24/08
Our new album, "Live! At the Firefly" is coming out in just a few weeks! It is coming out on our own label, Brown Dog Music, as part of the most exciting new record label out there, VizzTone Label Group. We couldn't be happier - being part of a label run by musicians and music lovers. For more info about that, go to www.vizztone.com. The new album was recorded over two nights at the Firefly Club in Ann Arbor MI and has mostly new tunes, a few old favorites and captures the band live on two particularly fiery nights.
For the first time, we are going to be selling the CD on our own website, in addition to all the usual places on the web and retail stores everywhere. You can buy the new CD at www.brucekatzband.com by going to the "store" page or the home page.
Otherwise, it's been a very cool summer. The BKB played at the Edinburgh Blues and Jazz Festival in Scotland and then went to Norway to play at the Notodden Blues Festival, playing several shows, also backing up Tad Robinson. I also had the honor of playing at the "piano summit" concert, featuring 3 pianists and no rhythm section- me, Henry Butler and Norwegian pianist Reidar Larsen.
I also got to sit in with the Allman Brothers this month, playing "Dreams"and "Stormy Monday" with them - it doesn't get much better than that....I've also been continuing to play with John Hammond, when he performs with a full band.
In May I went to Mississippi, having been nominated for a Blues Music Award for "Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year", had a great time, got to play with Duke Robillard at the awards show. I also ran into many old friends including Rosy Rosenblatt, which is how the band has gotten onto the VizzTone label.
We plan on touring a lot this Fall so we hope to see you all out there in the clubs. And feel free to buy the CD right here on the website, or just write an email (go to the "contact" page) and just say hi.
1/05/08
It has been a long time since there has been a news update and SO much has
happened in the past year.
The new John Hammond CD, "Push Comes To Shove"
(which I'm proud to say I am on) was released in early 2007 to critical raves
and I played with John at select gigs in the U.S. and Europe, including Austin's
SXSW Fest and a live radio/TV performance on "Mountain Stage".
I have also become a regular member of the Gregg Allman and Friends
band and played all over the U.S. and Europe with that band. My audition
for the band was for me to walk on stage at the Beacon Theatre in NYC and
sit in with the Allman Brothers Band! Whew!
I am obviously playing mostly piano with Gregg, while he is on Hammond B-3.
Gregg is a master of tone and groove on that instrument, besides being one
of the greatest singers on the planet! Life certainly is full of surprises.....
I am involved in a new project, a band called The Organiks
(www.theorganiks.com). Like the name says, this is purely an organ band, with
myself on organ (and covering organ bass as well), Chris Vitarello on guitar
and vocals, Jay Collins (Gregg Allman Band) on sax and vocals and Randy Ciarlante
(The Band, Jim Weider Band) on drums and vocals. With three great lead singers,
amazing players and original tunes being written by everyone in the band,
this is a great group, touching down on all sorts of Americana styles. Our
first gigs are coming up and I look forward to playing and recording with
these guys on an ongoing basis.
I continue to play with Alexis P. Suter, the Chris
Bergson Band (new CD, "Fall Changes" is out) and occasional
performances with Levon Helm at the Midnight Ramble.
And finally, the Bruce Katz Band continues to go strong.
We played a number of festivals around the country, completed several tours
and we WILL have a new CD out in 2008, possibly a live one.
In the meantime, I hope everyone is having fun out there, I know that I am!
6/20/06
There has been a lot of touring, new collaborations and
recording since the last news! Bruce was asked to record with the incredible
John Hammond on his upcoming CD, due out in the Fall, which he describes as
"a dream come true."
The Bruce Katz Band has also started to play occasionally
with Eric Mingus, who is an amazing singer and improvising spoken - word poet.
There are plans to record with Eric as well.
Bruce has also been playing with vocalist Alexis P. Suter,
at Levon's Midnight Rambles and certainother gigs as well. In addition, Bruce
is playing with the Chris Bergson Band, a NYC based singer/guitarist.
Finally, the BKB tour in the UK was a smash success and
had the band appearing on the BBC doing a "live session" for the
Paul Jones show, as well as playing in London for 2 nights and at the Burnley
Blues Festival.
The band is planning a Fall recording so if things go right,
we will have a new CD out in early 2007!
12/26/05
Bruce has started playing with Levon
Helm, the legendary drummer/vocalist for The Band. He is participating
in Levon's "Midnight Rambles", gigs which take place once month
at Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock. Recent guests who have played at the Ramble
include Emmylou Harris and John Medeski.
The Bruce Katz Band recently got asked
to play at the Aberdeen Jazz Festival in Scotland this coming March and will
be playing all over the UK in April , including the Burnley Blues Festival.
More news to come soon regarding 2006 Festivals,
including the new Bruce Katz/Joe Beard package being offered to festival promoters
for the coming year!
9/07/05
WEST COAST TOUR IN
NOVEMBER!
2005 is shaping up as one of the busiest
years ever for the Bruce Katz Band.
In January, the band toured the Southern
states, and played a show and spent the day at a prison in Mississippi. The
prisoners had a gospel as well as a blues band and everybody hung out and
played music. It was an absolutely AMAZING day!
In March, the band completed a very successful
tour of Germany and the UK. Bruce and Ralph were interviewed by Paul Jones
on the BBC for a full hour. The band also played a sold-out show at the famed
Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho, central London.
This November, the band
will be embarking on a very extensive West Coast tour, with a cross-country
series of dates well.
NEW RECORDINGS
Bruce is a guest on a couple of new recordings.
He plays Hammond B-3 on "Think Of Me", by the legendary Little Milton.
Tragically, this turns out to be his final recording. The world will miss
his amazing talent and his wonderful humanity as well.
He is also featured on Debbie Davies' new CD, "ALL I Found" as well.
Bruce continues to be an "unofficial" member of Debbie's band, with
this being the third consecutive album of Debbie's he has appeared on.
NEW MUSIC
Bruce has been writing new music and the
band will be playing a lot of new tunes this Fall, gearing up for recording
the next CD.
In 2006, look for a lot more touring, including
a European tour in April.
5/8/04
NEW CD, "A DEEPER BLUE" TO BE
RELEASED JULY 20 ON SEVERN RECORDS
We are very happy to announce that we have finished recording
the band's newest CD, titled "A Deeper Blue". It features 10 new
tunes by Bruce, one by Mike and one by Rod. It also features special guest
Ronnie Earl on guitar on two of the tunes. Everyone is very
excited about the new album - look for the band to be touring all over to
promote it.
12/6/03
Back in the USA
The Bruce Katz Band is back from its 11-city European tour.
We want to thank everyone who came out to support the band in England, Holland,
and Belgium. Thanks for giving us such a warm reception. It was great to meet
so many blues fans across the Atlantic!
Into the Studio...
After honing new material on the road for the last few
months, Bruce, Ralph, Mike, and Rod head into the studio on December 15 to
record a new album for Severn Records! Keep checking back for release dates.
9/20/03
Introducing... The Bruce Katz Band
Please join me in welcoming the two newest members of the
Bruce Katz Band, Rod Carey and Mike Williams. Mike is an inspired musician
and composer, and Rod, my old friend (and former bandmate from Ronnie Earl
and the Broadcasters) lays down a groove unlike anyone. I've been playing
with them both on and off for years, and I'm excited to have them join me
full time. Mike and Rod will both have a huge influence on the Bruce Katz
Band's evolving sound.
Also, I'd like to urge everyone in the Boston area to come
out to Johnny D's in Somerville this coming Friday, Sept. 26.á It's the Boston
area debut of the new Bruce Katz Band, and our first time at Johnny D's, which
is a great club.á The show is at 9:30, the cover is $8 and the phone number
for reservations and information is (617) 776-2004.
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9/3/03
Michael Williams joins the Bruce Katz Band!
This month brings a major change to the band.á After 6
years, Julien Kasper is leaving the Bruce Katz Band.áá He's played on 2 CDs,
been on countless tours and has been an intregal part of the sound of this
band.á As you all know, Julien is a wonderful guitarist and great musician.á
He is going to be concentrating on his own band and I wish him great success.á
He's going to be missed.
At the same time, I'm really happy to let you know that
Mike Williams is joining the band on guitar.á I've
been playing with Mike on and off for about 15 years and he is an inspired
and soulful musician and composer.áI played on Mike's CD (Late
Night Walk) that came out about 3 years ago.á Mike has been playing of
late with James Cotton and David Maxwell along with many other leading blues
artists.
I'm excited about this new direction for the band and I
think that if you don't already know Mike's playing, you're going to really
dig it when you hear him playing with us. The sound of the band will evolve
and that's a good thing!
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6/15/03
The Bruce Katz Band Joins Severn Records!
I am very happy to let you know that I have signed a new
record contract with Severn
Records. This is a great record company with musical integrity and energy
and committment to their artists. What more could I ask for?
I'm looking forward to joining some other New Englanders
on the label, Sugar
Ray and the Bluetones, Darrell
Nulisch and Ken
Clark, not to mention the rest of Severn's cool and varied roster.
We are talking about recording in the early Fall for a
Spring release. We have exciting new material to record, and we will be playing
it at gigs all summer, so there might be something
new to hear at our gigs for you veteran fans!
And, as you can see, the website has been totally redesigned
by my talented friend and webmaster, Alex Rabb of Shirts
That Say Pants. We hope you like it (I sure do!).
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4/22/03
The Bruce Katz Band is planning its first ever West Coast
tour in July, playing in L.A., San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Phoenix.
The band will work its way back across the U.S., playing Denver, Salt Lake
City, and other cities new to the BKB.
Keep checking the schedule
page for updates!
The tour will feature a bunch of new material, including
new tunes written by Bruce in the last few months.
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