Bruce Katz Band - Out From The Center (2016)

                                                             Bruce Katz Band
For fans of the sound of the Hammond B3, Boston-based Bruce Katz, who is currently living in Woodstock, is certainly no stranger. Not only did he belong to the Gregg Allman Band from 2007 to 2013, he also played with Duke Robillard, Ronnie Earl and with John Hammond. He still plays with the latter. He is also a popular keyboard player, where artists such as Delbert McClinton, Joe Louis Walker, Little Milton, Jimmy Witherspoon and Maria Muldaur were only too happy to appeal for their recordings. In addition, he also runs his own band, with which he made the debut album 'Crescent Crawl' in 1992. At 'Out From The Center', the guitarist and vocalist Chris Vitarello, who has been part of Katz 'band for 10 years, is on the forefront. Katz has often proved that he is an excellent all-round keyboard player, and that is evident from this album again. With a blast of a swinging piano bogie 'Do not Feel So Good Today', with infectious guitar work from Vitarello, Katz kicks off sublime. Then Katz on Hammond and Vitarello sharpen their talents even more in the jazzy, rocking instrumental 'Schnapps Man'. With 'The Struggle Inside' the gentlemen switch to a 7-minute trailing blues. And the tempo remains slow, but immensely beautiful in the instrumental 'Blues From High Mountain' where Katz takes everything, but also everything from his piano and Vitarello reminds us of Ronnie Earl, after which the title track continues on the chosen contagious instrumental way. It is high time that Vitarello once again sits behind the microphone and that results in the shuffle 'All Torn Up' decorated with jazzy Hammond tones. 'Bessie's Bounce' is such a piano song that your mind wanders to the 'The Sting' in the seventies. From the funk kaatje Bruce then again in 'Dis-Funkshunal'.
Seven songs have a playing time of more than 5 minutes and seven songs are instrumental but they never get bored. This level of play is only assigned to a select group of musicians. Katz and Vitarello belong there without a doubt. If you want to know why many artists are only too happy to appeal to Katz's keyboard work, you can listen to the answer on this album.

01. Don't Feel So Good Today (3:33)
02. Schnapps Man (5:33)
03. The Struggle Inside (7:35)
04. Blues From High Point Mountain (6:29)
05. Out From The Center (8:30)
06. All Torn Up (5:21)
07. Bessie's Bounce (4:26)
08. Dis-Funkshunal (5:00)
09. Another Show (5:12)
10. Think Fast (4:00)
11. You Got It (4:33)