Results for "Nik Bartsch"

Article: Extended Analysis

Continuum

by John Kelman
April 15, 2016

Few musicians have continued to hone a concept as singularly unique and instantly recognizable, irrespective of context, as that being explored by Swiss pianist Nik Bärtsch since he first formed Mobile with Don Li, Kaspar Rast and Mats Eser in 1997. First emerging on record in 2001 with Ritual Groove Music (Self-Released, reissued Ronin Rhythm, 2006), ...

Video

Nik Bärtsch's Mobile – Continuum (English Album EPK)

Featuring the music of Nik Bartsch
Duration: 8:30
April 15, 2016

After three studio albums [Stoa (2006), Holon (2008) and Lyria (2010) plus one live-double-CD (2012)] with his electric band Ronin Swiss keyboardist/composer Nik Bärtsch now presents a new album with his original group Mobile (whose line-up overlaps with the current Ronin cast). Mobile, originally founded in 1997 (and on the new album augmented on three tracks by a string quintet), is at the source of Bärtsch’s ritualistic approach to music making. This approach has been formed by his work with concepts of reduction and repetition as well as his fascination with Japanese culture. Here textures from jazz, funk, new music, minimal as well as ritual music are organically interwoven in the service of an energetic group sound.

News: Recording

ECM Records Releases Nik Bärtsch's Mobile "Continuum" on CD and 2-LP

April 8, 2016

Nik Bärtsch: piano, comp.; Sha: bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet; Kaspar Rast: drums, percussion; Nicolas Stocker: drums, tuned percussion Etienne Abelin: violin; Ola Sendecki: violin; David Schnee: viola; Solme Hong: cello; Ambrosius Huber: cello After three studio albums [Stoa (2006), Holon (2008) and Lyria (2010) plus one live- double-CD (2012)] with his electric band Ronin, Swiss ...

Article: Album Review

Nik Bärtsch's Mobile: Continuum

by Karl Ackermann
March 31, 2016

The timing couldn't have been better. Following up on the stunning double-CD live outing, Nik Bärtsch's Ronin Live (ECM, 2012), Bärtsch returns with his acoustic group, Mobile, for Continuum. With clarinetist Sha and drummer Kaspar Rast crossing over from Ronin, a new addition, Nicolas Stocker, on drums and percussion completes the core quartet. A string quintet ...

Article: Live Review

London Jazz Festival 2015

by Duncan Heining
December 1, 2015

London Jazz Festival London, UK November 13-22, 2015 Like many city-fests, the London Jazz Festival criss-crosses the town, spanning the River Thames that splits it in two. Two Southbank Centre venues--the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room--are being refurbished this year, making Kings' Place an even more significant festival stage ...

Article: Extended Analysis

Manu Katche: Touchstone for Manu

by John Kelman
August 5, 2015

With only four records released as a leader on ECM, it may seem a little early to release a “best of" disc for drummer Manu Katché. But having since moved on to fellow German label ACT for Live in Concert, while Touchstone for Manu is only being released in North America in the summer of 2015, ...

Article: Album Review

Nuno Costa: Detox

by Mark Sullivan
June 2, 2015

Portuguese guitarist Nuno Costa is heavily involved in music for film--his Berklee College of Music major was Film Scoring--so it's not surprising that his music often has a cinematic quality. This includes dramatic episodic compositional structures as well as programmatic song titles. Detox is his third album, following (...) -Reticências entre Parênteses (2009) and All Must ...

Article: Album Review

Batik: Headland

by Ian Patterson
May 29, 2015

Batik may be a relatively new group but there's a natural chemistry in this debut recording that is the result of long years playing together in a variety of contexts. The genesis of the group dates back to Joost Lijbaart and Wolfert Brederode's duo collaborations, which began in 2005 and the pair are also part of ...

Article: Album Review

MONOGLOT: MONOGLOT

by Mark Sullivan
January 19, 2015

MONOGLOT comes by their band name honestly, a Swiss/German/Icelandic jazz/rock quintet based in Basel, Switzerland that speaks with one voice. Their music is all instrumental, and the improvisational elements clearly mark it as jazz, but the rock elements are strong as well. This is a contemporary group with one foot in the jazz tradition and another ...

Article: Live Review

Festival International de Jazz de Montreal 2014

by John Kelman
July 8, 2014

Festival International de Jazz de Montréal Ambrose Akinmusire By Invitation Tigran By Invitation Tord Gustavsen Quartet / Brad Mehldau & Mark Guiliana, Mehliana June 26-July 6, 2014 There simply isn't a festival in the world like the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal. Where else in the world can you ...