Stu Katz / Eric Schneider Quartet

Thursday, August 15, 2024 8:00 PM 20:00
Sunday, August 18, 2024 8:00 PM 20:00

Jazz Showcase 806 S Plymouth Ct Chicago United States (map)

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AUGUST IS CHARLIE PARKER MONTH!

Clark Sommers - bass
Doug Hayes - bass (Saturday August 17th)
Ernie Adams - drums
Charles Heath - drums (Saturday August 17th)

Stu Katz (born June 9, 1937) is an American jazz pianist and vibraphonist.

Over his career, Katz has performed with many world-renowned jazz musicians including Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Bud Freeman, Dexter Gordon, Roy Haynes, Milt Jackson, “Philly” Joe Jones, Clifford Jordan, James Moody, Zoot Sims, Sonny Stitt and Phil Woods.

Katz has played piano or vibes in eleven 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 a long-time collaborator, alto saxophonist Bunky Green, and rounded out by Marcus McLaurine and Yoron Israel. In August, 2010, Katz played piano and vibes in a quintet co-led by another long-time musical partner, the late multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan, at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase in Chicago with a rhythm section consisting of Dan Trudell, Dennis Carroll and George Fludas. A live recording of those performances titled A Family Affair - Ira Sullivan and Stu Katz - Live at Joe Segal’s Jazz Showcase was released in September 2011 on the Origin label.

At the 2015 NEA Jazz Masters Awards ceremony held at Lincoln Center in New York City to pay a musical tribute to award winner Joe Segal, the founder of Chicago’s Jazz Showcase, Stu was the pianist in a quintet specially assembled to pay tribute to Joe also consisting of previous NEA Jazz Masters Award honorees Jimmy Heath and Jimmy Cobb, plus Ira Sullivan and Ray Drummond.

“(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.” –Neil Tesser

Eric Schneider was born and raised in the Chicago area. After graduating from the University of Illinois and four years of extensive touring with Earl Fatha' Hines and two years with Count Basie and his Orchestra (recording with both), Eric returned to Chicago and embarked on a richly diverse career that blends studio work, concert performances and jazz festivals, both in and out of town.

He's in constant demand on clarinet and saxophone by small groups and big bands that need a soloist who possesses both erudition and passion. Along the way he's worked with the who's who of jazz. He walks in the footsteps of the giants while expressing a vision that is entirely his own. By choice he's scaled back on traveling, but offers for extended touring are given special consideration if golf or skiing can be incorporated in the trip.