Reviews:
– “Yael Acher is a flutist who isn’t about faking the funk…her hard-edged Junk Kat Modiano ensemble is run from the kick drum.”- Steve Smith, Time Out New York.
– “…Acher raises the excitement level frequently by using overblowing techniques to ignite the collective voices”- Frank Rubolino, Cadence Magazine, USA.
-“…inheritance of post-hard-bop is especially original and convincing.” – Thierry Quénum, Jazz Magazine, France.
– “Very dense…highly original interaction between organic and non-organic…”– Kjeld Frandsen, Berlingske Tidende, Denmark.

About:
Based in Copenhagen and New York City, the award winning, and multiple genres flutist/composer/educator Yael Acher “KAT” Modiano leads her fusion jazz-funk group “KAT” MODIANO locally and internationally. The group performed at New York City venues such as: Blue Note, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Iridium, BAMcafe, Galapagos, Morris-Jumel Mansion, APAP 2017, and Newark Museum, NJPAC in NJ. Among numerous venues in Scandinavia, the group performed at: Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Cph Jazz House, Dexter, Rust, and Jazz i Malmö, Sweden.

The music:
With a line-up of established, masterful and soulful musicians, “KAT” Modinao merges together diverse expressions/impressions stemming from different cultures and rhythmic traditions; from fusion jazz-funk to indigenous beats, to afro-Cuban and experimental Noise-art, to contemporary jazz, blues, and spirituals.
The ensemble’s expressions are created with energetic pulsating rhythm section, funky -jazz el and acoustic bass lines, blues inspired, non-tonal harmonies on retro keyboards and piano, powerful improvisations with lyrical melodies and rhythmic riffs on the flute and effects, with some afro-impro vocals, and electronic multilayered noise-art.
Eclectic palate of soundscapes varies in structure and atmosphere with different instrumental combinations, from duo to quintet, with and without electronics and an image-collage screenings of abstract, associative, and social awareness visuals.
While some tunes have clear forms with tight orchestrations, others display serial music motifs with more free style improvisation sections and unisons, yet other are more lyrical, like jazz-blues ballads.
Like a heartbeat, RHYTHM is a pivotal element, merging with and supporting the WINDs and STRINGs, creating an overall flow of an abstract cinematic story-telling, inviting the audience on an adventitious, multimedia journey.

As jazz soloist “KAT” Modiano had also performed and recorded with world known musicians: Wycliffe Gordon (Wynton Marsalis), Bernard Purdie (Modern Drummer Hall of Fame), David Haney (Cadence Magazine), Billy Martin (Medeski Martin & Wood), and more.

Grants: “KAT” Modiano’s group has been supported by: Copenhagen Culture Foundation, Danish Artist Union, Danish Musician Union, KODA, Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and more.

Interviews and Broadcastings: HORIZONTE- “la vuelta a la manzana”- Mexican National Radio, WHCR 90.3FM, THE VOICE OF HARLEM, NYC, Danish Radio, Copenhagen Kanal, Jazz News and Jazz –Live, Danish Radio (DR), Radio Shalom, Denmark, WFMU Freeform Radio- New Jersey, USA, “Territori Sonor” Radio, Barcelona, Euronews, etc.

CD Releases featuring “KAT” Modiano’s music:

Redcar – Released in 2001 on MODIANO, recorded in Copenhagen, DK
Modiano – Released in 2003 on MODIANO, recorded in Copenhagen, DK
La Belle Ombre – Released in 2006 on Capstone Records, NYC, USA, recorded in Switzerland
“KAT” & “MOON” in Manna-hata – Released 2014 on CD Baby, recorded in NYC and Cph
Humanity is an Ocean – Flute Soundscapes – Released in 2020 on Centaur Records, recorded in Denmark
NOMAD Imagination-Roots of Love – Coming release in 2022 on Aliud Records, recorded in Copenhagen, DK.