Dick Katz


Richard Aaron Katz was an American jazz pianist, arranger and record producer. He freelanced throughout much of his career, and worked in a number of ensembles. He co-founded Milestone Records in 1966 with Orrin Keepnews.

Career

Katz studied at the Peabody Institute, the Manhattan School of Music, and Juilliard. He also took piano lessons from Teddy Wilson. In the 1950s, he joined the house rhythm section of the Café Bohemia, and worked in the groups of Ben Webster and Kenny Dorham, Oscar Pettiford, and, later, Carmen McRae. From 1954 to 1955, he was part of the J. J. Johnson/Kai Winding Quintet. He also worked in Orchestra USA and participated on Benny Carter's Further Definitions album, and worked on some of Helen Merrill's recordings. In the late 1960s, he played with Roy Eldridge and Lee Konitz. In the 1990s, he worked as a pianist and arranger with the American Jazz Orchestra and Loren Schoenberg's big band.
Will Friedwald called Katz "a keyboardist of uncommon sensitivity and harmonic acumen." He was the favorite pianist of Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins, as well as vocalists Carmen McRae and Helen Merrill.

Personal life

He died in Manhattan of lung cancer at the age of 85.
His son, Jamie Katz, a Columbia University graduate, is a freelance journalist and contributor to the Smithsonian magazine.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With Benny Carter
With Al Cohn
  • Four Brass One Tenor
With Jack DeJohnette
  • The DeJohnette Complex
With Kenny Dorham
  • Kenny Dorham And The Jazz Prophets
With Nancy Harrow
  • Secrets
With Milt Hinton
With Jimmy Knepper
  • Dream Dancing
With Lee Konitz
  • The Lee Konitz Duets
  • Peacemeal
  • Satori
  • Oleo
  • Chicago 'n All That Jazz
With Carmen McRae
  • Something to Swing About
With Helen Merrill
  • "The feeling is mutual" 1965
  • Chasin' The Bird
With James Moody
With Joe Newman
With Oscar Pettiford
With Jimmy Raney
With Sonny Rollins
With Loren Schoenberg
  • ’’That’s The Way It Goes’’
  • ’’Time Waits For No One’’
  • ’’Solid Ground’’
  • ’’Just A Settin’ And A-Rockin’ ‘’
  • Manhattan Work Song
  • Out Of This World
With Ben Webster
  • Big Ben Time!
With Kai Winding and J. J. Johnson
  • Kai and Jay and Bennie Green with Strings
  • K + J.J.
  • Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport
  • ''Jay and Kai''