Nick Katzman | |
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Born | 1951 New York, United States |
Genres | Blues |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, lute |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Nick Katzman (born 1951) is an American blues musician. Katzman was born in New York City, and lives in both Manhattan and Berlin, Germany. He plays in a variety of musical genres, including Chicago blues, Mississippi blues, Texas blues, and ragtime.
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As a teenager in the 1960s, Katzman saw many of the surviving country blues guitarists who travelled north to play their music in clubs and at the folk festivals.[1] He studied classical music and jazz at Antioch College in Ohio.[2]
Katzman cites amongst his teachers the blues masters Mississippi John Hurt, Mance Lipscomb, Reverend Gary Davis, Stefan Grossman and Rory Block.[3]
About 40 years ago, Katzman moved to Germany to live, tour and perform.[4]
Katzman discussed his musical influences as a mix of various strains of the blues, including Delta blues, country blues, folk music and hokum ragtime.[5] His music has been described as a "wide range of blues from Delta to Gary Davis."[6] Katzman's music has been compared to Tom Ball and Rich Stein.[7] He has also been compared favorably with his blues forebears Blind Blake and The Rev. Gary Davis.[8]
Katzman has collaborated with a number of senior Blues musicians, including Champion Jack Dupree, Carey and Lurie Bell, Louisiana Red, and Guitar Crusher.[9]
Katzman also has mentored a number of younger musicians, including Thomasina Winslow.[10][11] He continues to learn to play new instruments, including the lute.[12][13]
In the United States, Katzman often plays at The Good Coffee House at the Ethical Culture Society meeting house in Brooklyn, New York, New York.[14][15] He has been based (and currently as of 2007) in Germany.[16] In May and June 2007, Katzman toured Europe with Winslow, including a headlining appearance at the Stamford, England at the Stamford Arts Centre.[17][18][19] He returned to the Good Coffee House in April 2008,[20] with "special guests Paul Handelman on harp and Thomasina Winslow on guitar and vocals."[21]