Steel City Jazz Katts

 Established in 2017, is a big-band jazz ensemble based out of Pittsburgh, Pa. The group is made up of 13-15 professional musicians with a love and strong passion for jazz and dance music. These musicians are very active in the community teaching in the public schools, private schools, and music stores/studios. They also have years of experience performing in other community bands, rock bands, and other jazz ensembles. They are members of the American Federations of Musicians of the United States and Canada as well as the Pittsburgh Musicians Union Local 60-471 and Musical Society Local 41 of Johnstown, Pa. This group was created to help keep the style of jazz relevant in the world of music. Over the years, music has evolved into many different styles and art forms. Music has come a long way from the Classical, Romantic, and Baroque eras and we can never forget about where music started and where it will go in the future. That's where groups like the Steel City Jazz Katts come into play. We perform at Jazz Venues, Festivals, Churches, Weddings, etc.
 
 
Elliott Ratliff(Trombonist/Band Leader)
is a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. He received his Bachelor's degree in music education and performance from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Master's degree in Music Education from New Jersey City University.  He got his first taste of music teaching working as a trombone teacher for the Edinboro University Community Music School. He currently teaches brass, strings, and woodwinds at various music stores/studios in the Pittsburgh area such as the, Bentley and Romito Music Lessons LLC in Irwin, Batavia Music Studios in Mars, and Noteworthy Music in Valencia and Wexford. As a classical and jazz trombonist, he has performed with big jazz names like Roger Humphries, Harold Betters, and Al Dowe. He has also performed with the Bone Forum Big Band, Celebrity All-Star Band out of Atlanta, Georgia, Jazz-In-Your-Face Big Band in Johnstown, Pa, and many other jazz groups. He recently did a roaring 1920s jazz band scene on the Netfilx Series Archive 81. He is a member and elected delegate for the Pittsburgh Musicians Union Local 60-471 and an elected vice-president for the Eastern Conference the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada. He spends a lot of time teaching and promoting music, passing on his knowledge to the younger generations. He lives a moto, "Music is not what I do. It is who I am. Music is my religion".