Greg Hatza, Moon August, ORGANization…
Keyboard virtuoso Greg was originally from Pennsylvania and moved to Baltimore after securing what turned out to be a four-year house organist gig at Lenny Moore’s Club 24 on Gwynn Oak Avenue.
Before coming to Baltimore Hatza had previously recorded two albums for Coral Records “The Wizardry of Greg Hatza,” and “ORGANized Jazz” with Grady Tate (drums) and Eric Gale (guitar).
Moon August was formed in 1974. They were house band at Longfellows. They also performed at Bixby’s Cafe, Tijuana Jail, Orient Express, Baltimore City Fairs, and the annual Artscape festivals.
Their 1979 LP “…Just Another Gig” (Bushido Records) was recorded at Sheffield Studios and featured Hatza (keys), with Charlene Sarti (vocals, percussion), Vaughn Bratcher (bass, vocals), Major Boyd (sax, flute, percussion – ex-Both Worlds), and Willie Barber (drums, vocals ex-Soul Brothers).
The Moon August lineup stayed intact through the late-‘70s-mid-‘80s with Hatza (keyboards), Boyd (sax), Harold Adams (sax ex-Imperals, Soul Brothers, Luther Ingram’s Unit Truth, Both Worlds), Tony Bunn (bass -Skylab), Laurenda Featherstone (drums), and Lester Bailey (percussion). They earned the honor of best group at the Eubie Blake Jazz Festival in August 1983. Hatza’s group was also voted Best Jazz Band by both Maryland Musician Magazine and Baltimore Magazine for three years running in the late ‘80s.
Locally they performed at Poor Richards in Towson, Café Park Plaza, Talbot Street Café in Ocean City… In addition to local events, they performed at the San Remo Jazz Festival, and toured the Far East. Hatza also played solo gigs, see ‘70s-80s at Bixby’s in Towson…
Featherstone was later replaced with George Gray (ex-Both Worlds, Pockets). Bunn also recorded with Larry Bright… Other members: Drummer Ryan Diehl (Bob Butta Trio, Angie Miller Band, All Mighty Senators). Bassist Mitchell Coates…
A new group called the Greg Hatza ORGANization was formed in the mid-’90s. A self-titled LP on Palmetto Records was released in 1993 featuring Hatza (keys), Major Boyd (soprano sax), Jim Snidero (alto sax), Paul Bollenback (guitar), and Gary Jenkins (drums). Subsequent album releases include “In My Pocket” (1996), “Snake Eyes” (1998), and “To a New Place” (2001).
Hatza taught music at Towson State. He also performed with Paula Hatcher, Peabody Jazz Ensemble, Brian Kooken Trio, Melodic Intersect, Michael Raitzyk group…
Boyd could be seen performing in the ‘00s with Tiny Tim’s Do It All Band, and with the Bobby Rucks Group. Gray was a member of Cruel Shoes… Featherstone could be heard on 1977 Michal Urbaniak import LP “Urbaniak.” He performed with Lovecraft in ‘00s…
Album releases by Greg Hatza:
1967(LP) Coral 57493 The Wizardry of Greg Hatza
1968(LP) Coral 57495 ORGANized Jazz (with Grady Tate and Eric Gale
Album releases by Moon August:
1979 Bushido Just Another Gig
1983 Bushido 1692 Feelin’ Free
1989 Syntax 1001 Potion
1992 Aim Hard Times
1993 Palmetto Moon August
Album releases by Greg Hatza ORGANization:
1993 Palmetto The Greg Hatza ORGANization
1996 Palmetto In My Pocket
1998 Palmetto Snake Eyes
2001 I-Ching To A New Place
2016 Flip Diggin’ Up My Roots
