Dill Katz- A Tribute

I’m very sad to hear that legendary London bassist Dill Katz has passed away. Dill was a really great musician and generous connector of people. I did my very first gig in London with him when I was aged 18 or 19, then still a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It was at the 606 Club with Dill leading from the bass, Andrea Vicari piano and Brian Abrahams drums. I remember rehearsing with him before that gig at ‘The Premises’ (a seminal East London rehearsal studio which he co-founded with Colin Dudman). Dill drove us to the club after the rehearsal, (this also being my first time to do the full Embankment journey, seeing London in its full splendour from East to West!), so the whole night is a magical experience in my memory.

I had previously met Dill at a ‘District 6’ workshop when I was 15 and still at secondary school, I then later attended another similar workshop whilst studying for my A levels at a Further Ed college in Derby. District 6 was a fantastic South African/London crossover band led by Brian Abrahams with various great line-ups. When I re-met Dill a couple of years later at the Guildhall, he’d remembered me from those workshops and offered me that great first playing opportunity! Not many established musicians would take a chance on a young, green musician like that. I later went on to play in various bands led by him over several years, in which time he introduced me to countless musicians, London’s many different venues and got me started on the scene.

His generosity continued, when in the subsequent years he would to allow me to ring The Premises from time to time to see if any rooms had not been booked that day. If so, I would be able to hop down and blast away for a few hours, for a minimal token fee. He did this partly because he knew I lived in a small flat where I couldn’t really play through an amp at full volume, but also because he loved the idea of the space being used to the max and serving the music community. He did that for lots of others too.

The Premises later added recording facilities and Dill engineered my partner Christine Tobin’s first album ‘Aililiu’ in 1994. Christine also had many similar great experiences with Dill, so our history with him is very important to us and never forgotten. I often think of him when I’m in London and am only sorry that I hadn’t seen him in recent years. His great warmth of spirit extended to so many up-and-coming young musicians, as well as the whole community and it was always a pleasure to see him throughout my many years as a London based player.

As I’ve just also heard that the great Louis Moholo has passed away, I’m reminded of how important the South African musical community was to the UK jazz scene of the 80s/90s and District 6 were certainly an important part of that.

In short, Dill was an amazing man and much loved figure in the London jazz scene. Thanks for everything Dill. My condolences to all his family and many friends.

Dill Katz. Born 12 January 1946. Died 13 June 2025. In sadness.