Dick Katz (jazz pianist, 1916)

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Richard "Dick" Katz (born July 19, 1916 in Hanover ; died March 30, 1981 in London ) was a British jazz musician (piano).

Career

Katz, the classic from the age of five years was given piano lessons, left after the " seizure " of the Nazis in 1933 Germany with his family to escape racial persecutions. In the Netherlands he worked as a technician for a record company, but soon also played as a pianist with the Moochers and with Willie Lewis . After the Netherlands was occupied by Germany, he migrated to England, where he worked in Carlo Krahmer's band and with Cyril Blake in early 1942 . He worked for the BBC with Harry Parry's sextet . Before he was drafted into the Air Force, he performed with Cab Kaye in 1944 . After he was one of the jazzmen of Vic Lewis and Jack Parnell , he worked in the Carribean Club both in the trio of Lauderic Caton and in his own trio. After a short time with Buddy Featherstonhaugh , he played again in Caton's Caribbean Trio , which then became Ray Ellington's quartet at the end of 1947 (he stayed in his band until 1959 and was involved in numerous recordings). He then worked in a theater agency and as a manager for various artists, but still performed occasionally. This is how recordings with Bud Freeman were made in November 1966 .

Katz was married to the singer Valerie Masters, with whom he also performed.

Discographic notes

  • Kool for Katz (PYE 1959)

Lexical entries

Web links