Should we now rate this as an anti-cyclic method? As a necessary reduction of complexity? Or as a further twist in the spiral which the Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch and his faithful companions say they are on as a band organism. Work as a continuum. Bärtsch has enriched Enjoy Jazz with new constellations on many occasions. After enrapturing audiences with Ronin’s Ritual Groove Music and as a soloist guest, he presented the Ronin Rhythm Clan with a guitarist and additional horns. In 2014, it was a fascinating four-hour performance by Nik Bärtsch´s Mobile Extended in the EMBL Heidelberg’s double helix architecture. In 2015, this was extended to start at sunset and end at sunrise and was a true multi-media experience. Now, in 2016, Ronin returns in a quartet line-up. And the essence? Years ago during a talk, Bärtsch explained: “Basically, my concern is to show continuity in work. This is our concept. It is about developing in the form of a spiral. Things can then develop over a longer period of time—and suddenly perhaps externally determined things are perceived as innovations, as seemingly old things or no longer the same as before.” We are looking forward to this!
