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
Imaginary Cities cover

Imaginary Cities

Chris Potter Underground Orchestra
Lost & Found cover

Lost & Found

Sean Shibe
Valentine cover

Valentine

Bill Frisell
Ondas cover

Ondas

Mike Nock
Ask for Chaos cover

Ask for Chaos

Gilad Hekselman
The Broken Jar cover

The Broken Jar

Joe Garrison
In for a Penny, In for a Pound cover

In for a Penny, In for a Pound

Henry Threadgill Zooid
Beyond Now cover

Beyond Now

Donny McCaslin
Castles in the Air cover

Castles in the Air

Stan Strickland, Christine Van Arsdale, Claire Ritter, Steve Swallow, Andrew Blickenderfer, Takaaki Masuko, Johannes Ammon