Ronin is the name of the band of pianist/keyboardist Nik Bärtsch (Zurich, 1971). What does he call the music of his band? Zen funk, and that is something quite different to swing, hip-hop or bebop. Nik Bärtsch enjoyed a thorough education in classical music. His latest album is Holon and he is touring this summer with a more up-to-date repertoire and the new album. Bärtsch always presents his listeners with a special combination of instruments. Fellow band member Sha, for example, plays bass clarinet and double-bass clarinet, as well as alto sax. Nik Bärtsch seems to have a preference for sounds in the lowest registers and this means that bassist Björn Meyer also has a lot of room to demonstrate his improvisational talent. If you enjoy hyperactive and agitated sounds this band is not for you. 'Less is more' is the motto that best describes the musical style of these Zen minimalists. The band doesn't shy away from experimentation: Ronin is always searching for new sounds.
