Bruce Katz Band: “Connections” (2023) CD Review

Bruce Katz is a keyboardist who has played with some notable artists over the years, mostly in the blues realm, from Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters to Hurricane Ruth, and also leads his own band. Last year, the Bruce Katz Band released Connections, an album that features mostly original material, most of it written by Bruce Katz. The band is made up of Bruce Katz on organ, piano, and electric piano; Aaron Lieberman on electric guitar and vocals; Liviu Pop on drums and congas; and Shaun Oakley on electric bass. The album was recorded and mixed at Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia, and was produced by Bruce Katz and Legare Robertson. Most of the tracks are instrumentals.

The album opens with “Right Here Right Now.” I love the way Bruce Katz teases us, gets us excited with his piano work at the beginning of this track before landing on that rhythm. So good! And then the rest of the band comes in, and things are moving just fine. This is a good jam with a Southern flavor to welcome us all aboard, Bruce’s hands dancing on that piano, and likely causing many who listen to dance as well. And while the piano is the focus, this track also features some strong work on guitar. Then “Nighttime Stroll” has a great classic vibe, immediately pulling me in and putting me in a good mood. This is the first of the album’s tracks to feature vocals. Check out these first few lines: “Take your little hand, and rest it in mine/Let’s leave our troubles all behind/Let everyone know we’ll let the good times roll/As we take a little nighttime stroll.” This song is a delight, and it makes me think of those evening walks I take with my girlfriend. In the film version of our walks (which is only in my head), this song will be playing. It was written by Bruce Katz and Aaron Lieberman. “We ain’t got no worries, not even a care/‘Cause we feel the love deep down in our souls/As we take a little nighttime stroll.”

There is a good deal of funk to “Where’s My Wallet?” and it’s another track likely to get some folks dancing. I haven’t seen this band in concert, but based on tracks like this, I imagine these guys put on a fun show. It’s a funky blues number that features excellent work on both keys and guitar. And in the second half there is a drum solo, making the track even more appealing to me. That’s followed by “Morning On Basin Street,” which begins in a mellower place, with some rather sweet and warm and contemplative piano work. After a minute or so, it suddenly kicks in, with Bruce now on organ, and the band is hopping. You might guess from the song’s title that it will have a New Orleans flavor, and that is felt especially in the drum work. I love it. It’s the kind of rhythm that makes you want to dance down the street with a group of friends, along with strangers who will soon be friends. This one too has a drum solo in the second half, some really nice work. At the end, this track returns us to that mellower realm of its opening.

“Down Below” begins with guitar, promising to rock us. And indeed, this one has a heavier blues rock vibe. It was written by Aaron Lieberman, and features him on vocals as well as guitar. “Money’s tight, but you do all right/Especially when you’re turning out the light.” There is a good jam in the middle, featuring leads on keys and guitar. “Everybody has a story/Some go high, some go low/It’s always cool down below.” That’s followed by the album’s only cover, “Sneakin’ Around,” written by Jessie Mae Robinson. It was first recorded by Rudy Render in 1949, and also covered by Little Milton and Canned Heat, among others. These guys do a great job with it, really digging into its vibe. I especially enjoy Bruce’s lead on organ, but the track also contains a strong lead on guitar.

There is something beautiful about “The Dream” as it begins, something hopeful. The track soon settles into an easygoing and enjoyable rhythm. The groove has such a good vibe about it. At moments, the guitar work sings and has an uplifting quality, like a voice calling out to the heavens and leading the band as far as it can go in that direction. That’s followed by “All About That,” which has a cool, jazzy feel to it, and features some fantastic work on guitar. There is a wonderful lead on organ as well. I love the whole feel of this one. It’s partly that great rhythm. This track is approximately five minutes long, but it could have gone on another five or six minutes without losing any of its appeal. “Gary’s Jam” also has a good groove, one designed to get your body moving and feeling right. I don’t know who Gary is, but his jam is completely enjoyable. There is even a brief drum solo in the second half. This one slowly fades out, giving us the feeling that the jam is continuing without us, moving on.

As “Tides Are Turning” begins, it has a rock and roll feel. This is the final track to feature vocals. It was written by Aaron Lieberman. “Well, I’ve never been too sensible when it comes to ways of love, no/I’ve been waiting for a sign to hit me from the heavens above/But all I need to do is look into your eyes/The way I feel about you should come as no surprise/And it feels like the tides are turning.” And, friends, it does feel like the tides are turning out there, doesn’t it? Many of us are feeling optimistic again. This is a fun track, as its opening promised. The album then concludes with “What I Feel,” a mellower, soulful number featuring some wonderful stuff on organ. It’s a delicious track to wrap things up and leave everyone in a good place.

CD Track List

1. Right Here Right Now
2. Nighttime Stroll
3. Where’s My Wallet?
4. Morning On Basin Street
5. Down Below
6. Sneakin’ Around
7. The Dream
8. All About That
9. Gary’s Jam
10. Tides Are Turning
11. What I Feel

Connections was released on April 21, 2023 on Dancing Rooster Records.