Artist:Nik Bartsch's Ronin
Song:Modul 55
Album:Live
Swiss pianist Nik Bartsch straddles the line between jazz and new age music. He recorded for the European jazz label ECM for several years. ECM has been around since the 70s but in recent years they have specialized in this kind of minimalist jazz which is popular in Europe. Bartsch was born Aug. 3, 1971 in Zurich, Switzerland. He started playing piano as a child. Then he studied for five years at the Academy of Music. He met his main collaborator drummer Kaspar Rast when they were kids. He's a big comic book fan especially TinTin. And he was heavily influenced by Toru Takemitsu's music in Akira Krosawa's 1985 film Ran. Then he got into Zen meditation. Bartsch studied at Zurich University of the Arts and he graduated in 1997 with a major in classical piano. His other big influence is avant garde composers like John Cage and Steve Reich. Bartsch formed his first band Mobile in 1997 and he formed Ronin in 2001. At first he recorded for his own label. Then ECM owner Manfred Eicher signed him in 2006. The wider distribution is what got Bartsch a following first in Europe and then worldwide. There's not a big market for Bartsch's music but there is a market for it. And ECM is the main label for this kind of ambient jazz. It's not for everyone. Bartsch's music is not like George Winston. It's more like Cage or Reich. If you like jazz or new age, you might not like this at all. This 2012 Live album is available on CD. The album was recorded at different locations. Modul 55 was recorded in Mannheim, Germany. The musicians are Sha on alto sax, Bjorn Meyer on bass, Kaspar Rast on drums and Andi Pupato on percussion. This band was together from 2006-12. Bartsch left ECM in 2022 and he released an album on his own label last year. He co-owns a club in Zurich and he plays there regularly and sometimes he tours. Here's Nik Bartsch's Ronin performing Modul 55 at the 2021 XJAZZ Festival in Berlin, Germany.
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