Information

•

Artists

•

Booking and Contact Details

•

Links and Other Services

•

Gig Dates

•

The Fletcher Christian

•

•

•

•

•

THE BRUCE KATZ BAND

printable biog page 1

Bruce has been based in Boston for 25 years, and has played and recorded extensively in both blues and jazz idioms. Besides teaching at the Berklee College of Music, he tours extensively nationally and internationally with his own band.

Recent appearances have included the Snowbird Blues and Jazz Festival (Utah), the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (Scotland), Blues in Meudon (France),Taste of the Blue Ridge Blues & Jazz Festival (Roanoke) and clubs such as The Baked Potato (LA.), Buddy Guy's (Chicago), Biscuits and Blues (San Francisco) and the RegattaBar (Boston).

Bruce and his unique and exciting playing is always in demand and he has recently performed and/or recorded with David "Fathead" Newman, Duke Robillard, Debbie Davies, Charlie Musselwhite, Bryan Lee, Rick Holmstrom and Might Sam McCain, in addition to leading his own band.

Bruce has recently become a Hammond Organ Endorsee, joining other B3 greats such as Jimmy McGriffJoey Defrancesco and Jimmy Smith.
The members of the Bruce Kratz Band have played with many of the leading names in blues. Guitarist Mike Williams has been a longtime member of the James Cotton Band, as well as performances and recordings with Darrell Nulisch, Michelle Wilson, David Maxwell and others. Bass player Rod Carey played alongside Bruce as a member of Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters and has also played with Kenny Neal, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Hubert Sumlin and many others. Drummer Ralph Rosen has been a mainstay of the New England blues scene, regularly backing up touring artists in both blues and jazz, as well as playing with Bruce Kratz band for the past 7 years.

The band is now including some vocal tunes in their repetoire, with Rod Carey, an established singer as well as bassist, providing the vocals.
Bruc's fan base includes lovers of the Hammond B3 tradition in both blues and jazz. Recently younger audiences who are fans of other "jam bands" have found out about his CD's and have become fans as well. The Bruce Katz Band has played major blues and jazz festivals both in the United States as well as Europe.

...Rarely does a musician display brilliant dexerity, coupled with sparks of creativity, equally in both blues and jazz. One such rare bird is Bruce Katz, who not only meets these characteristics, but excels in his understanding of the genres and unleashes the strongest assets of each.
All Music Guide to the Blues, 3rd Edition.

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