Richard Aaron Katz (March 13, 1924 – November 10, 2009) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

pianist, arranger and record producer. He freelanced throughout much of his career, and worked in a number of ensembles. He co-founded

Milestone Records Milestone Records is an American jazz record company and label founded in 1966 by Orrin Keepnews and Dick Katz in New York City. The company was bought by Fantasy Records in 1972. Since then, it has produced LP reissues (including items from Ke ...

in 1966 with

Orrin Keepnews Orrin Keepnews (March 2, 1923 – March 1, 2015) was an American jazz writer and record producer known for founding Riverside Records and Milestone Records, for freelance work, and for his work at other labels. Biography Early life Keepnews ...

Career

Katz studied at the

Peabody Institute The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University is a private conservatory and preparatory school in Baltimore, Maryland. It was founded in 1857 and opened in 1866 by merchant/financier and philanthropist George Peabody (1795–1869) ...

, the

Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in mu ...

, and

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

. He also took piano lessons from

Teddy Wilson Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of ma ...

. In the 1950s, he joined the house rhythm section of the

Café Bohemia The Café Bohemia is a jazz club located at 15 Barrow Street in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York City. Its original run lasted from 1955 to 1960, and has been revived at its original location as of October 2019. History The club was ...

, and worked in the groups of

Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Career Early life and career A native of Kansas City, Missouri, he studied violin, learned how to play blues on the piano from ...

and

Kenny Dorham McKinley Howard "Kenny" Dorham (August 30, 1924 – December 5, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and composer. Dorham's talent is frequently lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of attention or public ...

Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Biography Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United ...

, and, later,

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

. From 1954 to 1955, he was part of the

J. J. Johnson J.J. Johnson (January 22, 1924 – February 4, 2001), born James Louis Johnson and also known as Jay Jay Johnson, was an American jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. Johnson was one of the earliest trombonists to embrace bebop. Biograph ...

Kai Winding Kai Chresten Winding ( ; May 18, 1922 – May 6, 1983) was a Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is known for his collaborations with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson. His version of "More", the theme from the movie ''Mondo Ca ...

Quintet. He also worked in Orchestra USA and participated on

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

's '' Further Definitions'' album, and worked on some of

Helen Merrill Helen Merrill (born Jelena Ana Milcetic; July 21, 1930) is an American jazz vocalist. Her first album, the eponymous 1954 recording '' Helen Merrill'' (with Clifford Brown), was an immediate success and associated her with the first generation ...

's recordings. In the late 1960s, he played with

Roy Eldridge David Roy Eldridge (January 30, 1911 – February 26, 1989), nicknamed "Little Jazz", was an American jazz trumpeter. His sophisticated use of harmony, including the use of tritone substitutions, his virtuosic solos exhibiting a departure from t ...

and

Lee Konitz Leon Konitz (October 13, 1927 – April 15, 2020) was an American composer and alto saxophonist. He performed successfully in a wide range of jazz styles, including bebop, cool jazz, and avant-garde jazz. Konitz's association with the cool jazz ...

. In the 1990s, he worked as a pianist and arranger with the

American Jazz Orchestra The American Jazz Orchestra was an American big band jazz ensemble founded in New York City, active from 1986 to 1993. The ensemble was formed by Roberta Swann and Gary Giddins in 1986; John Lewis was its inaugural bandleader. The ensemble played ...

and

Loren Schoenberg Loren Schoenberg (born July 23, 1958) is a tenor saxophonist, conductor, educator, and jazz historian. He has won two Grammy Awards for Best Album Notes. He is the former Executive Director and currently Senior Scholar of the National Jazz Museum ...

's big band.

Will Friedwald Will Friedwald (born September 16, 1961) is an American author and music critic. He has written for newspapers that include the ''Wall Street Journal'', ''New York Times'', ''Village Voice'', ''Newsday'', ''New York Observer'', and ''New York Su ...

called Katz "a keyboardist of uncommon sensitivity and harmonic acumen." He was the favorite pianist of Benny Carter and Coleman Hawkins, as well as vocalists Carmen McRae and Helen Merrill.

Personal life

He died in Manhattan of lung cancer at the age of 85. His son, Jamie Katz, a

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

graduate, is a freelance journalist and contributor to the ''Smithsonian'' magazine.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As sideman

With

*'' Further Definitions'' (Impulse!, 1961) *''

Central City Sketches ''Central City Sketches'' is an album by saxophonist/composer Benny Carter recorded in 1987 and released by the MusicMasters label as a double LP.

'' (MusicMasters, 1987) With

Al Cohn Al Cohn (November 24, 1925 – February 15, 1988) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and composer. He came to prominence in the band of clarinetist Woody Herman and was known for his longtime musical partnership with fellow saxophonist Zo ...

*''

Four Brass One Tenor ''Four Brass One Tenor'' is an album by Al Cohn's Jazz Workshop recorded in 1955 for the RCA Records, RCA Victor label.Jack DeJohnette Jack DeJohnette (born August 9, 1942) is an American jazz drummer, pianist, and composer. Known for his extensive work as leader and sideman for musicians including Charles Lloyd, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, John Abercrombie, ...

*''

The DeJohnette Complex ''The DeJohnette Complex'' is the debut album by Jack DeJohnette featuring Bennie Maupin, Stanley Cowell, Miroslav Vitous, Eddie Gómez, and Roy Haynes recorded in 1968 and released on the Milestone label in 1969. Reception The Allmusic review ...

'' (Milestone, 1969) With

*''Kenny Dorham And The Jazz Prophets'' (Chess, 1956) With

Nancy Harrow Nancy Harrow (born October 3, 1930, New York City) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. Career Harrow studied classical piano beginning at age seven, then decided to pursue careers in dancing and singing. She released an album for Candid ...

*''Secrets'' (Soul Note, 1991) With

Milt Hinton Milton John Hinton (June 23, 1910 – December 19, 2000) was an American double bassist and photographer. Regarded as the Dean of American jazz bass players, his nicknames included "Sporty" from his years in Chicago, "Fump" from his time on the ...

*''East Coast Jazz /5'' (Rhino, 1955) With

Jimmy Knepper James Minter Knepper (November 22, 1927 – June 14, 2003) was an American jazz trombonist. In addition to his own recordings as leader, Knepper performed and recorded with Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman, Claude Thornhill, Stan Kenton, Benny Goo ...

*'' Dream Dancing'' (Criss Cross, 1986) With

*'' The Lee Konitz Duets'' (Milestone, 1967) *''

Peacemeal ''Peacemeal'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz's Quintet recorded in 1969 and released on the Milestone label.Fitzgerald. M.Milestone label discography accessed June 3, 2015 The 2004 CD reissue added three alternate takes as bonu ...

'' (Milestone, 1969) *''

Satori is a Japanese Buddhist term for awakening, "comprehension; understanding". It is derived from the Japanese verb satoru. In the Zen Buddhist tradition, ''satori'' refers to a deep experience of ''kenshō'', "seeing into one's true nature". ' ...

'' (Milestone, 1974) *'' Oleo'' (Sonet, 1975) *''

Chicago 'n All That Jazz ''Chicago 'n All That Jazz'' (subtitled ''Big Band Jazz of the Broadway Musical'') is an album by American jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz performing John Kander and Fred Ebb's songs from the Broadway musical ''Chicago (musical), Chicago'' recorded in ...

'' (Groove Merchant, 1975) With

*''

Something to Swing About ''Something to Swing About'' is a 1960 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae, arranged by Ernie Wilkins. Reception The initial ''Billboard'' magazine review from January 1960 wrote that "McRae fans are going to like this and the gal can easily mak ...

'' (Kapp, 1959) With

*"The feeling is mutual" 1965 *''Chasin' The Bird'' (Emarcy, 1979) With James Moody *'' The Blues and Other Colors'' (Milestone, 1969) With Joe Newman *''

I'm Still Swinging ''I'm Still Swinging'' is an album by jazz trumpeter Joe Newman's Octet recorded in 1955 for the RCA Victor label. The album features cover art by Andy Warhol.Oscar Pettiford Oscar Pettiford (September 30, 1922 – September 8, 1960) was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer. He was one of the earliest musicians to work in the bebop idiom. Biography Pettiford was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, United ...

*''

The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two ''The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume Two'' (also referred to as ''O.P.'s Jazz Men'') is an album by bassist/cellist and composer Oscar Pettiford that was recorded in 1957 and first issued on the ABC-Paramount label.Jimmy Raney James Elbert Raney (August 20, 1927 – May 10, 1995) was an American jazz guitarist, born in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, known for his work from 1951 to 1952 and then from 1953 to 1954 with the Red Norvo trio (replacing Tal Farlow) and ...

*''

Jimmy Raney featuring Bob Brookmeyer ''Jimmy Raney featuring Bob Brookmeyer'' is an album by jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer which was recorded in 1956 for the ABC-Paramount label.Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Ge ...

With

Sonny Rollins Walter Theodore "Sonny" Rollins (born September 7, 1930) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist who is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. In a seven-decade career, he has recorded over sixty albums as a ...

*''

Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass ''Sonny Rollins and the Big Brass'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, recorded for the MetroJazz label, later reissued on Verve Records as ''Sonny Rollins/Brass - Sonny Rollins/Trio''.

'' (Metrojazz, 1957) With

*’’That’s The Way It Goes’’ (Aviva, 1984) *’’Time Waits For No One’’ (Music Masters 1987) *’’Solid Ground’’(Music Masters 1988) *’’Just A Settin’ And A-Rockin’ ‘’(Music Masters 1989) *''Manhattan Work Song'' (Music Masters 1992) *''Out Of This World'' (TBC; 1997) With

*''Big Ben Time!'' (Philips, 1963) With

and

*''Kai and Jay and

Bennie Green Bennie Green (April 16, 1923 – March 23, 1977) was an American jazz trombonist. Born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Green worked in the orchestras of Earl Hines and Charlie Ventura, and recorded as bandleader through the 1950s and ...

with Strings'' (OJC, 1952–54) *''

K + J.J. ''K + J.J.'' (also released as ''"Nuf Said"'') is an album by American jazz trombonists J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding featuring performances recorded in 1955 for the Bethlehem label.Payne, DKai Winding discographyaccessed July 11, 2016Edwards, D. ...

'' (Bethlehem, 1955) *''

Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport ''Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport'' is a split live album featuring selections from Dave Brubeck's Quartet with Paul Desmond and the J. J. Johnson/ Kai Winding Quintet performances at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival which was released on the ...

'' (Columbia, 1956) *'' Jay and Kai'' (Columbia, 1957)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Katz, Dick 1924 births 2009 deaths American music arrangers American jazz composers American male jazz composers American jazz pianists American male pianists Manhattan School of Music alumni Atlantic Records artists Milestone Records artists 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American composers 20th-century American male musicians American Jazz Orchestra members Reservoir Records artists 20th-century jazz composers Juilliard School alumni Peabody Institute alumni