Bruce Katz

Connections

Dancing Rooster

Keyboardist Bruce Katz has a new trio that he’s unveiling on his latest, Connections, which was recorded at the famed Capricorn Studios in Macon, GA, familiar turf to Katz from his tenures with Gregg Allman’s Band, Butch Trucks’ Les Brers, and Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band. While an integral member of those various bands, Katz built a solo career of trio albums as well which he continues here meshing blues, soul jazz, New Orleans R&B, and jams with new members Aaron Lieberman (guitar, vocals) and Liviu Pop (drums). While Katz plays piano, Hammond B3, and organ bass on eight of the eleven tunes, Shaun Oakley, grandson of original ABB member bassist Berry Oakley, plays bass on three.

Kicking off with “Right Here, Right Now” Katz is pounding the piano NOLA style, setting it up for Lieberman’s stirring guitar leads, the two combining on a fiery, jubilant five and half minutes of boogie. Katz is again at the piano for the bluesy “Nighttime Stroll,” our first introduction to Lieberman’s emotive vocals. His less is more guitar solo is spot on, followed by Katz on piano and later organ framing the vocals, guitar, and piano. “Where’s My Wallet” features the B3 and the trio in a slice of heated funk, where drummer Pop especially shines. “Morning on Basin Street” begins with Katz’s tranquil piano intro before he switches to B3, teaming with the guitarist to take us a jaunty ride before taking us out on the piano as we came in. Shaun Oakley’s bass is distinctive here, more so than on the first two tracks he plays on.

“Down Below” is a blues rocker with a full-throated Lieberman belting it out over a bed of B3 and power guitar chords while the standout “Sneakin’” Around” is a vintage mid-tempo NOLA R&B tune with Lieberman’s vocal underpinned by the leader’s B3 and an outrageous solo that Lieberman somehow almost matches in intensity both with his searing guitar and mighty vocal. “The Dream” lies somewhere between soul jazz and psychedelia while “All About That” is a swinging, somewhat jagged jazz- blues instrumental.  The trio hits their soul-jazz stride on “Gary’s Jam” which features impressive call and response lines from the organ and guitar as well as some of Lieberman’s best guitar moments and room for statements from all three band members. Stomping blues returns with the vocal tune “Tides Are Turning” where Katz features his B3 while mostly comping on the piano. Katz and his mates take us to church on the closing “What I Feel” wrapping up an album that hits those four pillars of blues, soul, gospel, and jazz.

Bruce Katz has long been a master of keyboards with nothing left to prove. He’s found two highly compatible trio mates who keep it all in the pocket and real. There are of course some dazzling solos both from Katz and Lieberman but mostly, the trio delivers these eleven tunes with feeling, not the unnecessary ostentatiousness that other bands fall prey to.

• Jim Hynes

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