FOR YOUR GRAMMY® CONSIDERATION

Kat & Burn features German saxophonist Katja Rieckermann and award-winning multi-instrumentalist/producer/engineer Bernhard Penzias, originally from Austria. Known for their master musicianship and amazing chops, hailing from successful careers in Europe, Kat & Burn have also established big U.S. careers while living in Los Angeles for the past 25+ years.

Katja has worked with Rod Stewart, Lady Gaga, Nile Rogers, David Foster, Arturo Sandoval, Brooks & Dunn, Dave Stewart and Wang Chung, among others.
Bernhard is a world-class guitarist and a wizard of all things stringed. He is in constant demand as a player, producer (multiple Gold- and Platinum Awards), and engineer, primarily working out of his studio in Topanga, CA.

Kat & Burn first met in early 2025 and were inspired to write together. They found that they had superb musical chemistry and proceeded to write songs for their debut album, Common Language. Stylistically, the project is song-oriented—highly melodic, sophisticated, and rather eclectic, blending jazz, reggae, dance, rock, spoken word, rap, and world music influences. Every song is quite different from the next, surprising and delighting listeners at every turn.

As virtuoso players themselves, Kat & Burn were able to attract extraordinary musicians to help realize their vision.
Common Language features Thomas Lang on drums, GRAMMY®-winner MB Gordy on percussion, Ben White on bass, Anne King on trumpet, Roch Bordenave on trombone; and GRAMMY®-nominated spoken word poet, Sekou Andrews, who wrote and performs his flow, "Rainy Days (Zany Ways)" over Kat & Burn's irresistible groove.

As a genre-bending mash-up of styles, Common Language is the very definition of Contemporary Instrumental Jazz and has been submitted for GRAMMY® consideration in that category.

Thank you for listening!

The release of this album, Common Language happened on August 17, 2026. They did their first live performance at the world-famous Baked Potato on June 24 of the same year. The concert was sold out and everybody was raving about this awesome performance.
Someone said: "Best music I've heard in a long time"! Kat & Burn put an incredible 8-piece band together with some of the finest musicians that LA has to offer.

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