Nik Bärtsch, born in Zurich in 1971, is an internationally renowned pianist, composer, producer and founder of the label Ronin Rhythm Records, the Zurich music club EXIL, and the indie classical festival, Currents Zurich. He records exclusively for ECM records, the internationally renowned German jazz and classical label and his own label and has performed in over 50 countries in clubs, institutions, and festivals like the Big Ears Festival Knoxville, San Francisco, London, Berlin, Shanghai, and Cape Town Jazz Festivals. His compositions are played by renowned ensembles like Bang On A Can, Third Coast Percussion, RIAS Chamber Choir Berlin, and the Zurich Chamber Orchestra.

Ronin features Nik Bärtsch on piano and keyboard, Sha on bass clarinet and alto saxophone, Jeremias Keller on bass, and Kaspar Rast on drums. The band has continuously developed their repertoire through their weekly Monday concerts - even during the Corona time - at their own EXIL club in Zurich. In January 2024, they played MONTAGS concert number 1000 and celebrated 20 years of Monday concerts in November. Their newest work shows the phase in which the band is now: looking back and forward at the same time. Their nuanced sound, based on pattern, cycle and groove developments with refined beats, is still present, combined with a playfulness and freedom within the clear structures. The band members’ ear for chamber music-like details, blending, ghost notes, and micro phrasings refreshes their live performances.

“My favorite set from the entire four-day event (Big Ears Festival 2024) – and probably one of my top shows ever – came Thursday evening with Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin” – SPIN MAGAZINE / Ryan Reed

“One of the most uplifting concerts of the 2024 Big Ear festival was Nik Bärtsch’s Ronin. Bathed in stage smoke, Ronin seemed like high priests of minimalism and the mystic. – ECHOES.ORG / Jeff Towne

“My imaginal facility was in hog heaven during this performance. So glad I finally got to see these gentlemen, file under OUTSTANDING!” – AVENTMUSICNEWS.COM / Michael Eisenberg

“On paper, Ronin is a standard quartet of reeds, keyboards, bass, and drums. What they play though is both unique and universal....what you hear is astonishingly funky and hip.” – STAR-REVUE.com / George Grella

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