Nik Bärtsch – Etudes for Rhythm, Cycle and Area Consciousness
(Ronin Rhythm Productions. CHF28 as ebook. CHF20 as obtain. Evaluation by Mike Collins)

The newest of Nik Bärtsch’s albums for ECM is “Entendre” for solo piano (evaluate beneath). Bärtsch – who has 4 UK dates subsequent week in London, Manchester and Norfolk (listed beneath) – has additionally revealed the sheet music. Author/pianist Mike Collins has been attending to know the music by way of each the disc and the rating… “I’ve entered into an alluring sound world,” he notes…

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Mike Collins writes: Let’s begin with Modul 58. The pianist’s left hand is getting fairly a piece out. First there’s an insistent single be aware, repeating rhythmic sample. Fluently delivered, it builds an pressing, intensifying momentum. Open right-hand chords drop into gaps within the sample.  Then the left hand bursts right into a racing, effervescent sample over which the suitable hand performs little motifs that appear to slip throughout the patterns.

Scrutinising the sheet music, I be aware the ‘7/4’ time signature and the dense black ink on the bass clef mapping out that racing sample. Once I play the semi-quaver patterns nevertheless, they resolve right into a repeating 7 be aware sample that’s in some way pianistically fairly snug.  An uncommon project from London Jazz Information is popping into an satisfying and educative voyage into the musical universe of Nik Bärtsch, Swiss pianist, composer, tutorial and martial arts trainer.

It began with a ebook of sheet music, detailed and exact notation of items from Bärtsch’s solo piano album 2021 ECM album Entendre.  The album is notable. For practically 15 years or so I’ve been aware of the ‘minimalist zen funk’ of Bärtsch’s band Ronin, since encountering them at a Bathtub Pageant gig. The prospect of that trance-like, steadily mutating, layered however deeply grooving music rendered for solo piano was intriguing. It seems to be spacious mesmerizing and alluring music with the minimalist aspect of Ronin’s self-characterisation very evidently on the core. 

The sheet music to is notable. Launched to it by London Jazz Information and invited to ‘write one thing,’ I’ve been struck by how intently scripted the items are. The solo recording has an open and exploratory air. The notated items reveal some detailed units; participating to familiarize yourself with, and meals for thought for future taking part in. Juxtaposed rhythmic patterns for instance present a lot of the stress and motion, rendered effortlessly by Bärtsch, trickier for this humble pianist to nail.

In Modul 58 the flurries in a single hand maintain regular while shorter motifs transfer throughout them. Modul 55, one among my favourites,  begins with a steadily pulsing be aware in the suitable hand (in ‘6/4’ this time) while the best of two chord phrase strikes round it making the heart beat shimmer earlier than the supplies are recast right into a wonky, loping sample. The extra contemplative air is current in Modul 13, one other odd time sample (‘11/4’) within the left hand with a proper hand motif regularly displaced throughout it.  This time there are useful annotations on getting ready the piano, with particular recommendation on the kind or eraser to insert between the strings!  

Bärtsch has given the ebook the title ‘Etudes for Rhythm, cycle and area consciousness’. After spending a while studying, exploring on the piano, listening and following the journey of a few of these items from band to solo piano, the title works nearly as good summation of the expertise of being immersed within the music.  An intriguing impulse has additionally developed, the will to play a number of the items with different individuals, unpacking the cautious packaging.

With the engagement with what for me has been a special strategy to music making, I’ve entered into an alluring sound world. It appears to have an nearly austere asceticism and financial system at it’s coronary heart and, I mirror, might not be to everybody’s style.  Whether or not difficult or participating, the trouble is unquestionably price it.

Mike Collins is a pianist and author based mostly in Bristol, who runs the jazzyblogman website /.
Twitter: @jazzyblogman

LIVE DATES / LINKS

10 August – Ronnie Scott’s, London RONIN (quartet) / Two homes – DETAILS
11 August – Band on the Wall, Manchester RONIN (quartet) – BOOKINGS
12 August – Houghton Pageant (Houghton Corridor, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 6UE) RONIN (quartet)
13 August – Houghton Pageant Nik Bärtsch solo piano

Nik Bärtsch at ECM Information

Purchase “Etudes”
John Bungey’s album evaluate of “Entendre”