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!
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.
