Katz studied at the
Peabody Institute, the
Manhattan School of Music, and
Juilliard. He also took piano lessons from
Teddy Wilson. In the 1950s, he joined the house rhythm section of the
Café Bohemia, and worked in the groups of
Ben Webster and
Kenny Dorham,
Oscar Pettiford, and, later,
Carmen McRae. From 1954 to 1955, he was part of the
J. J. Johnson/
Kai Winding Quintet. He also worked in
Orchestra USA and participated on
Benny Carter's
Further Definitions album, and worked on some of
Helen Merrill's recordings. In the late 1960s, he played with
Roy Eldridge and
Lee Konitz. In the 1990s, he worked as a pianist and arranger with the
American Jazz Orchestra and
Loren Schoenberg's big band.
Will Friedwald 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 ==