Bruce Katz Band - Connections

Size: 132.2 MB
Time: 56:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2023
Styles: Blues, Jazz
Art: Full

01. Right Here Right Now (5:20)
02. Nightime Stroll (4:37)
03. Where's My Wallet? (4:41)
04. Morning On Basin Street (5:42)
05. Down Below (5:07)
06. Sneakin' Around (5:41)
07. The Dream (5:08)
08. All About That (5:04)
09. Cary's Jam (5:11)
10. Tides Are Turning (4:48)
11. What I Feel (4:58)

Connections is the newest CD from the legendary keyboardist Bruce Katz and his dynamic band. Recorded at famed Capricorn Studios in Macon Georgia, this album includes ten new original tunes that explore the connections between Bruce’s many influences: Blues, New Orleans R&B, Jam Blues, Soul-Jazz, and Blues Rock. Bruce was a longtime member of Gregg Allman’s Band and member of other Allman Brother “family bands”, including Butch Trucks’ Les Brers and Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band. Recording the album at Capricorn, the studio that gave the world the Allman Brothers and so many other greats, was an inspired choice for creating Connections, and the results are stunning!

Connections MP3
Connections FLAC

---

Bruce Katz Band - A Deeper Blue

Size: 149,0 MB
Time: 64:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Instrumental jazzy blues
Art: Full

1. Know It? I Wrote It! (3:11)
2. Greasy Sticks (5:15)
3. The Dark Room (6:27)
4. Yeah, Maybe (Feat. Ronnie Earl) (5:15)
5. Poptop (4:41)
6. The Stroll (4:05)
7. (Why Don't You Just) Go Home! (5:51)
8. Call It Gone (5:59)
9. Stovepipe Boogie (3:00)
10. Slinky (6:31)
11. Blues In D Natural (Feat. Ronnie Earl) (5:21)
12. For Cliff (6:06)
13. Jump'd (2:48)

Keyboardist Bruce Katz showcases his jazz-meets-blues chops on Deeper Blue. Featuring Katz on both the Hammond B-3 organ and piano, the results sound something like a progressive, post-bop jazz group heavily into early-period Ray Charles. Although Katz is the featured player here, the album plays more like a group effort with guitarists Ronnie Earl and Michael Williams coming front and center much of the time. To these ends, "(Why Don't You Just) Go Home!" is a quick and funky Medeski, Martin & Wood-style burner, "Greasy Sticks" is a suitably greasified shuffle, and "Slinky" is a menacing and atmospheric mid-tempo modern blues. Longtime Katz fans and listeners searching for some rootsy and intelligent improvisational music should find much to enjoy here. /Matt Collar, AllMusic

(For personnel details, see artwork included.)

A Deeper Blue mc
A Deeper Blue zippy

---

Bruce Katz - Solo Ride

Size: 117,7 MB
Time: 50:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2019
Styles: Blues, Jazz, Woogie Boogie
Art: Full

01. Down At The Barrelhouse (3:27)
02. Crescent Crawl (5:36)
03. It Hurts Me Too (3:45)
04. Praise House (4:53)
05. Red Sneakers (4:39)
06. Dreams Of Yesterday (4:02)
07. Midnight Plans (5:41)
08. Easy Living (2:58)
09. Going Places (2:34)
10. The Way To Your Heart (5:03)
11. Watermelon Thump (2:55)
12. Redemption (4:22)

Solo Ride is Katz’s only solo release after thirty years of composing, touring and playing. It captures the emotion and intensity of his music. It contains all instrumentals from top to bottom, drawing from his vast background of stylings from jazz to blues to classical, gospel and country.

Solo Ride puts Bruce Katz and a grand piano in a world class studio and sounds as rich and dynamic as any of the recordings he has done with full bands.

Eleven of the twelve tracks on the album are original Bruce Katz tunes and exhibit not only his virtuosic playing but also showcase his eclectic and compelling compositions. These range from barrelhouse Boogie-Woogie to classic ‘30s/ ‘40s style jazz to gospel influenced and New Orleans influenced tunes and even a “country” waltz, all with the little details and surprising “twists” that set Bruce’s writing and playing apart from the ordinary.

“After years of working with the top names here’s Bruce Katz combining his vast knowledge of the legendary piano blues masters with his unique sensibility and styling. No one else brings this kind of passion to their piano playing. Bruce is so talented he can EVEN play the piano with both hands… and at the same time!” – Ben Elliott

Solo Ride

---

Joe Louis Walker, Bruce Katz, Giles Robson - Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues

Size: 121,3 MB
Time: 51:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Electric Blues, Harmonica Blues
Art: Front

01. Mean Old Train (3:01)
02. It's You Baby (3:23)
03. I'm A Lonely Man (6:22)
04. You Got To Run Me Down (3:12)
05. Murderer's Home (5:47)
06. Feel Like Blowing My Horn (5:43)
07. Hell Ain't But A Mile & A Quarter (3:56)
08. G & J Boogie (2:14)
09. Poor Kelly Blues (4:42)
10. Chicago Breakdown (2:50)
11. Hard Pill To Swallow (5:57)
12. Real Gone Lover (4:40)

Personnel:
Joe Louis Walker: Guitars, Vocals
Bruce Katz: Piano
Giles Robson: Harp

Guitarist, singer, Grammy winner and Blues Hall Of Fame member Joe Louis Walker, virtuoso pianist Bruce Katz and British harmonica ace Giles Robson take the audience on a musical tour through beautifully played and soulfully sung traditional Blues songs.

The trio deeply influenced the blues catalogues and chose songs from blues masters such as Sonny Boy Williamson, Jazz Gillum, Blind Willie McTell, Smiley Lewis, Papa Lightfoot and Big Maceo.

Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues MP3
Journeys To The Heart Of The Blues FLAC

---

Bruce Katz Band - Get Your Groove!

Size: 127,6 MB
Time: 54:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Blues
Art: Full

01. Hesitation Blues (4:06)
02. Beef Jerky (4:41)
03. Shine Together (Tribe Of Lights) (5:39)
04. River Blues (5:38)
05. Make Things Right (4:32)
06. Get Your Groove (5:13)
07. Zone 3 (5:13)
08. Rush Hour (6:07)
0 9. Wasn't My Time (7:59)
10. The Bun (5:21)

Get Your Groove! is the new CD from legendary keyboardist Bruce Katz and his exciting, road-tested band, Chris Vitarello, playing guitar and singing, and Ray Hangen on drums. Also playing on the album is Allman Brothers founding drummer Jaimoe. This album continues the evolution of the band s music from the traditional blues and soul-jazz it is already known for into the improvisational jam blues . Katz played as a member of Gregg Allman s Band and other Allman Brothers family bands like Butch Trucks Freight Train Band and Jaimoe s Jasssz Band.

Get Your Groove MP3
Get Your Groove FLAC

---

Bruce Katz Band - Live! At The Firefly

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:55
Size: 150.9 MB
Styles: Soul/Jazz/Roots/Blues
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:17] 1. Deep Pockets
[6:22] 2. Better Get It In Your Soul
[7:39] 3. The Blue Lamp
[4:13] 4. Jump Start
[6:45] 5. Ice Cream Man
[5:04] 6. Southern Route
[4:42] 7. Bugged Out
[5:18] 8. Marshall County
[5:01] 9. Crew Of Two
[5:17] 10. Norton's Boogie
[6:10] 11. Victoria
[4:06] 12. Brother Steve

Led by the critically acclaimed pianist and Hammond B-3 organist Bruce Katz, the Bruce Katz Band plays unique instrumental music that explores many aspects of American roots styles while never losing its blues spirit and feeling. This powerful four-piece band blends guitar and B-3 organ into a sound that is modern and yet traditional at its core. ''Live! At The Firefly'' is the band's sixth CD and finest album yet. The twelve-song live album is performed by the regular touring members of the band. It is evident from hearing the explosive musical dynamics on this album that this is a group of musicians who has developed its own sound from playing together for a long time. Eleven of the tunes are originals, eight being brand-new and 3 fan favorites. While the individual performances are all brilliant, the album excels as a group effort, with each song telling a story with layers of depth and melody.

Live! At The Firefly mc
Live! At The Firefly zippy

---

Bruce Katz Band - Out From The Center

Size: 138,0 MB
Time: 60:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues, Blues Jazz, Boogie
Art: Full

01. Don't Feel So Good Today (3:33)
02. Schnapps Man (5:33)
03. The Struggle Inside (7:35)
04. Blues From High Point Mountain (6:29)
05. Out From The Center (8:30)
06. All Torn Up (5:21)
07. Bessie's Bounce (4:26)
08. Dis-Funkshunal (5:00)
09. Another Show (5:12)
10. Think Fast (4:00)
11. You Got It (4:33)

Out From the Center , the new CD from legendary keyboardist and four time Blues Music Award Nominee Bruce Katz also features the exciting and brilliant guitarist and vocalist Chris Vitarello. Chris has been performing with the Bruce Katz Band for ten years, but really steps into the limelight on this album, singing and writing tunes, along with Katz. In fact, this album is a true complete band effort, with longtime drummer Ralph Rosen also contributing tunes to the CD, alongside the bandleader, Bruce Katz.

Out From the Center is both eclectic and accessible, incorporating emotional blues rooted music as well as traveling the wide world of blues , as Katz calls it. This means the band touches down on jam tunes, traditional piano blues and Boogie Woogie and Hammond B3 powered soul jazz as well.

The album consists of eleven original tunes, and continues the band's tradition of combining virtuosic playing, raw emotion and a truly original sound, one that is coming from the soul of the Blues tradition while simultaneously growing that tradition. This is exciting, vital music from a band in its creative prime.

Out From The Center

---

Duke Robillard - A Swingin Session With Duke Robillard

Year: 2008
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:03
Size: 121,1 MB
Styles: Jazzy blues, jump, swing
Scans: Full

1. Deed I Do (3:56)
2. The Lonesome Road (6:42)
3. Them That Got (5:20)
4. Just Because (4:35)
5. Meet Me At No Special Place (3:29)
6. Red Dog (6:49)
7. They Raided The Joint (4:52)
8. When Your Lover Has Gone (6:34)
9. The Song Is Ended (3:08)
10. Swinging With Lucy Mae (6:34)

Duke Robillard has always had one foot in the blues world and one in the swing/jazz universe. He loves both styles of music and enjoys not only playing them separately but combining them together. The founder of Roomful of Blues back in 1967, Robillard has led dozens of projects throughout his career, including collaborations with guitarist Herb Ellis, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Jay McShann.

On A Swingin Session, he plays with some of his favorite musicians, many of whom originated (like he did) in Rhode Island. While six horn players participate, there are no more than four on any one selection, and some numbers do not have any. The contrasting tenor solos are fun to hear, with Scott Hamilton sounding smooth and mellow on his numbers while Sax Gordon is greasier and much closer to Illinois Jacquet.

Present throughout are Bruce Katz (mostly on organ), one of three bassists (usually Marty Ballou), and drummer Mark Teixeira. Robillard takes vocals on half of the selections in his personable way, but it is his guitar solos, which hint at both Charlie Christian and T-Bone Walker, that often take honors. Performing medium-tempo blues, jump tunes, standards, and good-time numbers, Duke Robillard shows listeners a fun time and clearly enjoys himself, too. /Scott Yanow, AllMusic

A Swingin Session With Duke Robillard

---

Ronnie Earl - 2 albums: Hope Radio / Eye To Eye

Album: Hope Radio
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 78:17
Size: 179.2 MB
Styles: Jazz blues, Modern electric blues
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:08] 1. Eddie's Gospel Groove
[5:55] 2. Bobby's Bop
[8:32] 3. Blues For The Homeless
[8:15] 4. I Am With You
[3:35] 5. Katrina Blues
[8:08] 6. Wolf Dance
[6:39] 7. Kay My Dear
[8:49] 8. Blues For The West Side
[8:46] 9. Beautiful Child
[9:52] 10. Blues For Otis Rush
[4:34] 11. New Gospel Tune

Other than jazz and classical, there are few other musical genres where vocals don't dominate, but Ronnie Earl sets out to prove that blues can be another. This entirely instrumental album never lags for a second of its hour-and-a-quarter playing time, all without a word being sung. Instead, Earl uses his magnificent guitar tone -- a stinging combination of Santana, Hubert Sumlin, Mike Bloomfield, Otis Rush, and Albert King -- and command of dynamics to wring more soul from his material than all but a handful of vocalists could ever achieve. He does this without the blinding speed or enhanced volume of the most popular blues six-stringers, but by the sheer intensity of his playing on these 11 tracks. Recording live in the studio with an invited audience (the session was also captured for a DVD release) provides the cliff-hanging excitement of a concert, allowing Earl, whose multiple health problems prevent him from touring, to tear it up in a more controlled setting. A few acoustic tracks such as "Katrina Blues" provide a changeup from the spark-shooting electric solos that dominate this dazzling performance. All Earl needs is a touch of reverb and bandmembers who understand when to lay low to let him soar. That's what happens during this session, cherry-picked from two days of concerts in April 2007. Drummer/producer Lorne Entress deserves recognition for a light touch on percussion and, perhaps more importantly, letting Earl stretch out for extended periods of whispering solos, as he does on the eight-minute Howlin' Wolf/Hubert Sumlin tribute "Wolf Dance." He opens up on the following slow blues of "Kay My Dear," laying back with smooth yet tensile jazzy licks over the faintest of backing at the song's start, only to gradually build to a dull roar by the track's end. Few guitarists could capture a listener's interest so confidently over longer tunes, but Earl pulls it off with an effortless precision that seems second nature. Six of the selections break the eight-minute mark, but none are needlessly drawn out with the directionless riffing so endemic to less inventive blues guitarists. The tempos, especially in the album's middle third, stay restrained and perhaps a few more upbeat tracks would have helped the disc's flow. Regardless, it's unlikely any listener will complain when Earl tears into the nearly ten-minute "Blues for Otis Rush," as he whips off a frenzy of soul-drenched notes that machine gun out of his fingers. The live environment adds thrilling high-wire tension to a guitarist who is already in the upper echelon of his peers. ~Hal Horowitz

Hope Radio

---

Album: Eye To Eye
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 68:27
Size: 156.7 MB
Styles: Modern electric blues
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[7:12] 1. How Long
[4:48] 2. Country Girl
[3:41] 3. Tops Boogie Woogie
[5:06] 4. Eye To Eye
[4:52] 5. Yonders Wall
[5:41] 6. Ronnie's Blues
[4:31] 7. Shake For Me
[5:49] 8. Miss Ida B
[5:07] 9. Kidney Stew
[5:53] 10. I Woke Up This Morning
[4:29] 11. Take It Easy Baby
[6:46] 12. Anna Lee
[4:27] 13. Forty Four Blues

This CD is a fine showcase for guitarist Ronnie Earl, who is teamed with three members of the Legendary Blues Band (pianist Pinetop Perkins, bassist Calvin Jones and drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith), plus organist Bruce Katz. Although pianist Perkins takes vocals on most of the songs and bassist Jones sings on two of the numbers, nearly each selection has plenty of solo space for Earl and Perkins. Sticking exclusively to the blues at a variety of tempos, the fine program (which has superior instrumental playing that overshadows the personable vocals) should be of strong interest to both blues and jazz collectors.

Eye To Eye

---

Joe BEARD - No More Cherry Rose / Blues Union

Born and raised in Ashland, MS, guitarist Joe Beard grew up with the Murphy brothers, one of whom later found an international following as Matt "Guitar" Murphy. Guitarist Nathan Beauregard lived with Beard's cousin, so he was surrounded by aspiring and veteran blues musicians while growing up, and he began singing at an early age. Beard became interested in playing guitar via the Murphy brothers, who sat in with a young B.B. King when he played at the Roosevelt Lake Club. Beard began to learn guitar at age 17 from Ernest Scruggs, a neighbor, before heading to Chicago. Beard moved to Rochester, NY, and from time to time would visit one of his brothers in Chicago. He quickly became enamored of the blues being played in clubs there. Beard sat in with John Lee Hooker one night and received encouraging words from Hooker, and also later sat in with his idol, Muddy Waters. While in Rochester, he formed the Soul Brothers Six, playing bass and singing, but he didn't perform in public on guitar until 1965. Beard worked as an electrician by day and would occasionally play out at night and on weekends for most of the '60s on through to the '80s. He has a reputation as one of the best local players around, and though he may not be a household name in other parts of the U.S., he toured Europe in 1983 and did studio and stage work with Buster Benton, Lafayette Leake, and Memphis Slim.

____________________________________________________________________________

Album: NO MORE CHERRY ROSE
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Recorded: 1990 
Released: 1990
Bitrate: 320k/s
Size: 97.66 MB
Time: 41:49
Art: Full

1. When I Get Drunk (3:19)
2. Cancel My Reservation (5:00)
3. Something's On My Baby's Mind (4:22)
4. Heaven Of My Own (4:48)
5. Let Me Love You (3:14)
6. Highway 49 (4:17)
7. No More Cherry Rose (4:44)
8. Have You Ever Wanted Someone (4:15)
9. Papa's Little Angel (3:28)
10. New York Woman (4:22)

Personnel: Joe BEARD - Guitars, Vocals
Ernie Lancaster - Guitar
Lucky Peterson, Teo Lacksameyer - Piano
John Dubuc - Harmonica
Bob Greenlee - Bass
Denny Best - Drums

Note: Joe Beard was 52 when he recorded No More Cherry Rose in 1990, an enjoyable electric blues date that employs Lucky Peterson on piano, Ernie Lancaster on guitar, Bob Greenlee on bass, and John Dubuc on harmonica (among others). Not a bad cast of players, and this isn't a bad album at all. Except for a likable interpretation of Lightnin' Hopkins' "Papa's Little Angel," the singer/guitarist concentrates on his own songs, which range from the humorous "When I Get Drunk" and the playful "Let Me Love You" to the lonely "Heaven on My Own" and the haunting title song. Beard favors a relaxed, laid-back style of singing that clearly owes a debt to Jimmy Reed, and he has also been influenced by Texas blues great Lightnin' Hopkins. However, it's equally clear that the singer/guitarist is very much his own man. Not a gem but generally pleasing, this album went out of print after several years but will hopefully be reissued someday.

                                                            No More Cherry Rose
____________________________________________________________________________

Album: BLUES UNION
Styles: Modern Electric Blues
Recorded: 1995
Released: 1996
Bitrate: 320k/s
Size: 130.05 MB
Time: 55:03
Art: Full

1. Lay For Me Sometimes (4:41)
2. Just To Be With You (5:25)
3. I Count The Days (3:32)
4. Sinners Prayer (7:29)
5. Sally Mae (2:58)
6. Please Don't Light The Flame (4:48)
7. Feets Out In The Hall (6:31)
8. Think (3:21)
9. Telling It Like It Is (8:25)
10. Don't Know Why (4:07)
11. Late In The Evening (3:46)

Personnel: Joe BEARD - Guitar, Vocals
Ronnie Earl - Guitar
Bruce Katz - Keyboards
John Dubuc - Harmonica tr.2,3,6
Rod Carey - Bass
Per Hanson - Drums
with special guest:
David 'Fathead' Newman - Tenor Sax tr.4,8

Notes: Although Joe Beard is a country-based bluesman and fellow guitarist Ronnie Earl (who brought along his Broadcasters for this set) is strictly city, they work together quite well. The emphasis is often on Beard's expressive vocals (which sometimes look toward John Lee Hooker and Lightnin' Hopkins but display their own personality). Beard and Earl contribute contrasting guitar solos, pianist-organist Bruce Katz fuels a grooving rhythm section, tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman has a couple of cameos and the harmonica of Joe Dubuc is a strong asset on three songs. Even with its nods toward the past, this release is a fine example of blues in the mid-'90s.

                                                                    Blues Union
___________________________________________________________________________