Bruce Katz Band - A Deeper Blue

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)

More so than most, Bruce Katz takes a rough roadhouse approach to the Hammond B3 organ group on A Deeper Blue (Severn). The shuffles are greasier, and the playing is more primal and cathartic, especially by guitar killer Michael Williams. And the overall vibe is looser, nastier and more grooving. This is one great bar band. Katz himself is a killer on the B3, as he proves on the shuffle "Greasy Sticks," the uptempo swinger "Poptop" and the hip boogaloo "(Why Don't You Just) Go Home!" Guitarist Ronnie Earl makes guest appearances on two tracks, stinging in his inimitable fashion on the chugging Texas blues "Yeah, Maybe" and on a toe-curling rendition of Earl Hooker's slow "Blues in D Natural." Katz also offers up some accomplished Pinetop Smith-styled piano work on "Stovepipe Boogie" and a touch of N'awlins piano on "The Stroll," but it's mainly the B3 that we're interested in here.(~Bill Milkowski; jazztimes.com