Nik Bärtsch

Nik Bärtsch was born on August 3, 1971 in Zürich, Swiss. He is a pianist, composer, bandleader, record producer and author.
Repetition and change are central motifs in Nik Bärtsch’s music and performance practice. Nik Bärtsch’s work is at the intersection of contemporary music, jazz and funk influences. The use of repetition, as well as structures based on interweaving elements in his music suggests the influence of minimalist music, and in particular of Steve Reich. Bärtsch is also influenced by oriental philosophy and the ostinato of James Brown. He has also taken a close interest in the work of the American composers John Cage and Morton Feldman. Bärtsch is fascinated by the Japanese Zen culture. His musical attitude is also influenced by his interest in the Japanese martial art (Aikido) and Zen, among other things. It is his Zen practice of awareness that does not get lost in the multiple, but reduces the multiple as much as possible and concentrates on the essential.

Nik Bärtsch formed two bands: Mobile in 1997 and Ronin in 2001. He also performs solo.

Bärtsch’s mysterious music will be around for a lot longer than the quick fix that majority taste seems to clamour for.

Stuart Nicholson, The Observer (UK)

Source: Wikipedia, artist’s website