Remembering Dill Katz - his Birthday Gig
Tonight we remember one of the great UK electric bass players, the brilliant Dill Katz. Dill started his career in the early 1960’s and through the 60’s and 70’s he was first call for a number of highly rated and often influential bands, including Pacific Eardrum, Nucleus, Barbara Thompson’s Paraphernalia & District Six. At the same time a regular on the studio scene, he could be found playing on sessions for a host of high-profile artists, including the iconic Dusty Springfield. By the 90’s he was playing with his own bands as well as teaching at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. A truly lovely man, his great passion was to support and encourage upcoming young musicians, a significant number of whom have since become highly respected players in their own right and who will be appearing at the Club this evening. His association with the 606 went back over 30 years, with his own bands but also as the long serving bass player with Club owner Steve Rubie’s Brazilian/Jazz band “Samara”. After becoming ill in late 2019 Dill retired from performing, but maintained his contacts until his untimely death in June 2025. One of the most respected players of his generation, both as a musician and as a quiet, generous and caring individual Dill has established his place in the pantheon of great UK jazz musicians.
For many years Dill celebrated his birthday, 12th January 1946, here at the Club and we felt it appropriate to mark this special day one more time. Tonight, along with the likes of John Etheridge & John Parricelli-guitar, Mark Lockheart-sax, Dudley Phillips-bass, Sophie Alloway-drums and band members from Samara, Nic France-drums, Andy Lafone-bass, Neil Angilley-piano & Steve Rubie-flute/sax amongst many others, we will be honouring this wonderful musician with an evening of fun and eclectic music, just the way Dill would have liked it!
“Superior jazz-rock…led by ex-Nucleus…bassist Katz” Time Out