Karl Katz :
“Musik liegt in der Luft - Music is in the air”
Karl Katz was born on March 3, 1931 in the state of Hessen, Germany. After his A levels at the State College, he studied at the Conservatoire of Hessen classical violin, composition and conducting.
After receiving the performance diploma for classical violin he joined the radio symphony orchestra of the state of Hessen and worked as a full time musician until retirement at the age of 65.
He was also a member and first violinist of the radio and TV Big Band of the state of Hessen. In the Big Band he played mostly Jazz, his great passion. In the 1950s he spent most of his free time at Jazz clubs in Germany and across Europe to listen to, to learn from and to play with visiting bands from the USA. Karl Katz became famous in Germany and other countries of Europe for his solo performances in TV shows and concerts of the Radio and TV Big Band of Hessen as accompanying band for visiting artistes from the USA such as Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka and Liza Minelli.
His style of playing the Jazz violin (the so-called “sweet violin”) secured him a place among the top three jazz violinists in Europe in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, i.e. Stephane Grapelli, Helmut Zacharias and Karl Katz.
In the 1960s Karl Katz was the leader of a Jazz Combo and he had his own weekly radio show in Germany (Radio Hessen) called “Tea with Karl Katz”. His signature song was “Musik liegt in der Luft” (music is in the air). In the 1960s Karl Katz was the leader of a Jazz Combo and he had his own weekly radio show in Germany (Radio Hessen) called “Tea with Karl Katz”. His signature song was “Musik liegt in der Luft” (music is in the air).
He would also perform with his band on German passenger ships on cruises around the world.
It was around 1979 that he first came to Colombo as a visiting musician and came once a year thereafter to perform at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi. Karl originally played clarinet and saxophone in Colombo and later changed over to violin. Subsequently he loved Sri Lanka so much that it became his second home.
In 2005 he married Arosha, an accomplished pianist, and together they would play four times a week at the Hilton.
Karl was very popular with the musicians as well as the staff at the Hilton. He never failed to make us (the Sunday Jazz Band) smile recounting several interesting and quaint anecdotes from his life.
He was a swinging violin player. His favourite tunes included Basin St. Blues, Rosetta, Dark Eyes, Crazy Rhythm and many others from his wide and varied repertoire.
The violin is normally associated with lilting romantic melodies in the classical idiom. Karl was able to reproduce exactly that and with his versatility switch to jazz mode and improvise in a rhythmic style comparable only to the likes of Stephane Grapelli. In the last stages of his battle with his illness, we never failed to admire his strength of character. Even if he suffered excruciating pain, he always showed up immaculately dressed and ready to give his best, compelling the audience to acknowledge his mastery of the instrument. Even when he fractured his elbow, his one thought was to get it set, recover and speedily return to the music that he loved and was his life.
This was not to be as Karl answered his makers call on September 25, 2011. Although the vacuum can never be filled, Karl will continue playing in that heavenly abode and the Angels will most definitely sing and swing!.
Auf Wiedersehn, dear friend!
Friends of Karl Katz
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Karl Katz and his Ballroom Ensemble open their performance gigs for the Christmas season today at the Mount Lavinia Hotel Terrace. Back with a new ensemble, Karl Katz will perform daily until the much awaited New Years Eve. In this new member group is Lindy Huppertsberg who in Europe is affectionately called Lady Bass. She plays the acoustic bass and has a band of her own and has toured 50 different countries. 