Jazz Pianist, Arranger, Record Producer. His career spanned more than 60 years. Born Richard Aaron Katz, he was raised in Baltimore by a well-off family, and began performing in local clubs prior to attending (briefly) the University of North Carolina. Katz joined the Navy in 1942, and was to see combat in the South Pacific; after the war, he worked in his father's advertising agency, while studying at the Manhattan School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, and Juilliard. During the 1950s, he played clubs in New York, backing Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham's Jazz Prophets, Coleman Hawkins, and others, while joining clarinetist Tony Scott in several albums, such as "Music after Midnight" and "Jazz for GIs"; in 1958, Katz signed with Atlantic Records, producing his record "Piano and Pen", and appearing on the albums of a number of greats-of-the-day, including Carman McRae, Sonny Rollins, and Roy Eldridge. In 1961, he was to join the legendary saxophonist Benny Carter for the highly regarded "Further Definitions", while, in 1965, he accompanied vocalist Helen Merrill on "The Feeling is Mutual". Teaming with producer Orrin Keepnews to found the label Milestone in 1966, he had a number of successes for, among others, Jim Hall and Ron Carter; for several years begining in the early 1980s, he played with the American Jazz Orchestra, while teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and the New School. A respected writer, he authored essays for "The Jazz Review" from the late 1950s on, and contributed numerous liner notes, gaining Grammy nominations for two he did for the Smithsonian in the early 1990s. Katz lived his final years in New York, and died of lung cancer.
Jazz Pianist, Arranger, Record Producer. His career spanned more than 60 years. Born Richard Aaron Katz, he was raised in Baltimore by a well-off family, and began performing in local clubs prior to attending (briefly) the University of North Carolina. Katz joined the Navy in 1942, and was to see combat in the South Pacific; after the war, he worked in his father's advertising agency, while studying at the Manhattan School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, and Juilliard. During the 1950s, he played clubs in New York, backing Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham's Jazz Prophets, Coleman Hawkins, and others, while joining clarinetist Tony Scott in several albums, such as "Music after Midnight" and "Jazz for GIs"; in 1958, Katz signed with Atlantic Records, producing his record "Piano and Pen", and appearing on the albums of a number of greats-of-the-day, including Carman McRae, Sonny Rollins, and Roy Eldridge. In 1961, he was to join the legendary saxophonist Benny Carter for the highly regarded "Further Definitions", while, in 1965, he accompanied vocalist Helen Merrill on "The Feeling is Mutual". Teaming with producer Orrin Keepnews to found the label Milestone in 1966, he had a number of successes for, among others, Jim Hall and Ron Carter; for several years begining in the early 1980s, he played with the American Jazz Orchestra, while teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and the New School. A respected writer, he authored essays for "The Jazz Review" from the late 1950s on, and contributed numerous liner notes, gaining Grammy nominations for two he did for the Smithsonian in the early 1990s. Katz lived his final years in New York, and died of lung cancer.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
