Awase cover
Released

Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch is synonymous with everything ECM stands for: careful control of atmosphere, meticulous attention to sound and space, and an underlying capitulation to the moment. Alongside Sha (bass clarinet and alto saxophone), Kaspar Rast (drums), and Thomy Jordi (bass), Bärtsch unravels some of the finest details of his “modular” approach. Offering an uncompromising ritual groove aesthetic on the altar of funk, he takes us through changes as seamless as they are surprising, linking every shift in angle to the same body. Like an Escher print, the more you regard it, the more variation it reveals.

Tyran Grillo

Recommended by

Suggestions
Kingdom of Fitzrovia cover

Kingdom of Fitzrovia

Jah Wobble, Bill Sharpe
Highway Rider cover

Highway Rider

Brad Mehldau
Schattseite cover

Schattseite

Adelhard Roidinger
Souvenance cover

Souvenance

Anouar Brahem
HH cover

HH

Lionel Loueke
A Long Story cover

A Long Story

Anat Fort Trio
Sanctuary cover

Sanctuary

Jason Anick, Jason Yeager
Yellow cover

Yellow

Emma-Jean Thackray
Discourses cover

Discourses

Jon Balke
Arctic Riff cover

Arctic Riff

Joe Lovano, Marcin Wasilewski