It has been said that instrumentalist
Bruce Katz has one foot in jazz and the other foot in the blues, but those aren't the only styles that interest the organist/pianist; rock, soul, and gospel are also part of what he does. All of those influences assert themselves on
Three Feet Off the Ground, which tends to be more aggressive and rockin' than the album that preceded it, 1997's
Mississippi Moan. "Wrecking Ball" and "Beef Jerky" (which brings to mind
Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder") are definitely among the more forceful things
Katz has recorded, and his guitarist Julien Kasper sounds equally uninhibited. Although
Katz is a talented acoustic pianist with a healthy appreciation of
Albert Ammons, his piano playing takes a back seat to the organ this time.
Katz's Hammond B-3 dominates the CD, and one is reminded how appealing he is on the instrument. As an organist,
Katz has a gritty, earthy sound that is somewhere between
Jimmy Smith and Stax hero
Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. & the MG's fame).
Three Feet Off the Ground is a release that blues, jazz, and rock fans alike will want to hear. ~ Alex Henderson