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Nik BartschSwiss pianist, composer and producer
Date of Birth: 06.08.1971
Country: ![]() |
Content:
- A Musical Polymath: Nick Bärtsch
- Early Education and Influences
- Parallel Musical Explorations
- Collaborations and Label Affiliations
A Musical Polymath: Nick Bärtsch
Nick Bärtsch, a Swiss pianist, composer, and producer, hails from Zurich.
Early Education and Influences
Bärtsch commenced his musical journey at the tender age of 8, delving into both piano and percussion. In 1997, he graduated from Zurich's University of the Arts. Concurrently, from 1989 to 2001, he pursued academic studies in philosophy, linguistics, and musicology at the University of Zurich.
Parallel Musical Explorations
Bärtsch's multifaceted musical endeavors encompass three distinct projects: his solo performances, the acoustic group Mobile, and the "Zen funk" trio Ronin. As a soloist, he showcases his own compositions on a prepared piano complemented by percussion. Mobile presents purely acoustic improvisations in extended rituals lasting up to 36 hours, often incorporating lighting elements. Ronin, in contrast, offers more conventional but rhythmically complex compositions that fuse jazz, funk, and acoustic rock.
Collaborations and Label Affiliations
Since 1997, Mobile has comprised Kaspar Rast (drums), Mats Eser (bass), and Sha (clarinets). Ronin, formed in 2001, features Rast and Sha of Mobile alongside Björn Meyer (bass) and Andy Pupato (drums). Bärtsch's early projects were released on his own Ronin Rhythm Records label. In 2006, he signed with the prestigious ECM label and has since released three albums on that imprint.