[Stu]Katz . . . remains - along with Barry Harris, Hod O'Brien, and one or two others - among the last fully authentic purveyors of unreconstructed bebop piano in the country.
Stu Katz has been a working jazz pianist and vibraphonist for more than 55 years.
Over his long career, he has performed in numerous public venues with young and old bebop luminaries including Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Joey DeFrancesco, Dexter Gordon, Bunky Green, Roy Haynes, Milt Jackson, "Philly" Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, Russell Malone, James Moody, Zoot Sims, Sonny Stitt, Ira Sullivan and Phil Woods.
Stu has played piano or vibes at the Snowmass Jazz Festival, in nine different Chicago Jazz Festivals and on six jazz-themed cruises on Norwegian Cruise Lines. In 1990, he toured Italy and Switzerland as the pianist in a quartet led by one of his principal long-time collaborators, alto saxophonist Bunky Green. In August, 2010, Stu played piano and vibes in a quintet co-led by his other principal long-time collaborator, multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in Chicago. A live recording of those performances titled A Family Affair - Ira Sullivan and Stu Katz - Live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcaseis scheduled to be released on September 20, 2011 on the Origin label.
