Jimmy Katz Founds Nonprofit to Aid Musicians

By DownBeat I Jan. 18, 2018

Drummer Johnathan Blake will lead a trio during Giant Step Arts’ kick-off events, which are scheduled for Sunday and Monday at the Jazz Gallery in New York.
(Photo: Jimmy Katz)

Photographer and producer Jimmy Katz has founded a new nonprofit endeavor that will support jazz musicians.

Giant Step Arts is set to begin presenting a series of jazz performances, with a kick-off on Jan. 21 and 22. Katz will record, photograph and film the shows and offer the spoils to performers at no cost.

“Giant Step Arts will not be selling any music,” Katz, a frequent DownBeat contributor, said in a news release. “We have two goals: Help the musicians and raise more money, so we can help more musicians.”

Katz, who’s worked with David S. Ware, Joe Lovano, Harold Mabern, William Parker and scores of other performers, begins his Giant Step program with two nights of music at New York’s Jazz Gallery on Sunday and Monday. The Johnathan Blake Trio, featuring saxophonist Chris Potter and bassist Linda May Han Oh, are scheduled to perform four sets of music.

Future shows are expected to include saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa in a new trio setting, as well as Jason Palmer, who’s set to lead a quartet that features saxophonist Mark Turner and bassist Ben Williams.

For more information about Katz’s work, visit his website. And to donate to the organization, visit its sponsorship page.