Bruce Katz – 11/14

Bruce Katz is a legendary keyboardist (Hammond B3 and piano) who has released 12 albums as a leader and has appeared on over 75 other CDs with the likes of John Hammond, Delbert McClinton, Ronnie Earl, Little Milton, Butch Trucks, Duke Robillard, David “Fathead” Newman, and many others.

He has had a strong musical connection with the Allman Brothers Band and was a member of Gregg Allman’s band for six years (2007–2013). He played with Jamoe’s Jasssz Band (2010–2015), Butch Trucks’ Freight Train Band and Les Brers (2015–2017), and has occasionally toured with the Allman Brothers.

He is a seven-time (2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2020, 2021) nominee for the Blues Music Award (W. C. Handy Award) for “Pinetop Perkins Piano Player of the Year.” He won the BMA for Acoustic Blues Album of the Year in 2019 for his collaboration with Joe Louis Walker and Giles Robson on Journeys to the Heart of the Blues, and was nominated in 2020 for the same award for his acoustic piano album Solo Ride. He was also nominated for “Outstanding Musician (Keyboards)” by Living Blues Magazine in 2015 and 2019.

He combines Blues and American Roots music with elements of jazz and improvisational rock to create a signature sound.

Katz was an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music from 1996–2010, teaching Harmony, Hammond organ labs, Blues History and private piano instruction.

He began playing piano at age 5 and has a background in classical piano. After hearing a Bessie Smith record at age 10 he taught himself blues and early jazz, later exploring boogie-woogie, swing, and other aspects of jazz and American roots music. He attended Berklee in the mid-1970s studying Composition and Performance.

In the 1980s he performed extensively in New England and toured with Big Mama Thornton. After touring in the late ’80s with Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, he enrolled at the New England Conservatory and earned a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance, studying with Geri Allen, Paul Bley, Cecil McBee, and George Russell. During that time he began writing the music that became the Bruce Katz Band.

In 1992 he joined Ronnie Earl’s band, The Broadcasters, touring and recording for nearly five years and appearing on six albums. He co-wrote tunes including "The Colour of Love," "Ice Cream Man," and "Hippology." The album Grateful Heart (Bullseye) won the Downbeat Critics Poll for Best Blues Album of 1996.

Katz released his first solo album, Crescent Crawl, in 1992, followed by Transformation (1993) and Mississippi Moan (1997). After leaving the Broadcasters he focused on the Bruce Katz Band, touring the U.S. and Europe while continuing other projects.

He has played with Duke Robillard (2001–02), John Hammond (2005–present), Gregg Allman (2007–13), Delbert McClinton (2011–2014), and many other roots, blues, and rock performers. His albums have appeared high on national and international radio play charts and he has been featured in leading blues and jazz publications.

Katz teaches piano, Hammond organ and theory privately at his studio in West Shokan, NY, offers long-distance Skype lessons, and conducts master classes in Blues/Jazz piano style and history, Hammond B3, and Blues history at schools, universities, and festivals worldwide.

Formerly from Boston, he has been based in Woodstock, NY since 2005.

Event details:
Doors: 5:30 PM
Showtime: 7:00 PM
Date: November 14, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Venue: The 443 Social Club & Lounge, 443 Burnet Ave, Syracuse, NY 13203

Ticket info:
- The 443 is an intimate listening room with table service that seats 75 people.
- The green squares/circles on the floor plan are bar-height tables; the orange squares are regular-height tables.
- Most seats are sold as "Tables for Two" — each ticket admits two people.
- A limited number of single seats are available; single attendees may share a table with other single attendees.
- Multiple tickets purchased under the same name will be seated together (up to 6 people).
- Requesting a specific table is a perk reserved for VIP Patron members.
- If anyone in your party needs special seating arrangements (walker, cane, service animal, wheelchair, low table requirement), or you want to be seated with another party, please email the venue after you place your order.

Links:
- Website: https://www.brucekatzband.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brucekatzmusic/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucekatzband/
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7cvmkkkAA2mTfwhhMSfrEi?si=lYTkR4R2RV6tTOWjDImxeg
- Tickets (Eventbrite): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bruce-katz-at-the-443-social-club-tickets-1992374031361?aff=oddtdtcreator
- Video: https://youtu.be/RfIIphmNAIM?si=aQjPbdjMpaVcDY0o