Nik Bärtsch’s Mobile celebrate album release with concert at the Berghain, Berlin

Posted by on Mrz 7, 2016
Nik Bärtsch’s Mobile celebrate album release with concert at the Berghain, Berlin

After three studio albums and a live double album on ECM Records, Nik Bärtsch’s electric Zen-funk outfit Ronin needs no introduction. Less well known are Mobile, Bärtsch’s all-acoustic group. Actually, the formation of Mobile predates that of Ronin. Founded in 1997, Mobile is effectively the wellspring of Bärtsch’s ritualistic approach to music making, nourished by his concepts of reduction and repetition as well as his fascination with Japanese culture. Here, textures from jazz, funk, new music, minimal as well as ritual and sacred music are organically interwoven. Nearly twenty years since its inception, Mobile have at last recorded their debut album, “Continuum”. It is released worldwide by ECM Records on 18 March.

Mobile’s core line-up is almost exactly the same as that of Ronin: Nik Bärtsch (piano, compositions); Sha (bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet), and Kaspar Rast (drums, percussion). Replacing the electric bass, however, is another percussionist, Nicolas Stocker. In a second version of the group, called Mobile Extended, the core group is joined by Etienne Abelin (violin), Ola Sendecki (violin), David Schnee (viola), Solme Hong (cello) and Ambrosius Huber (cello).

To celebrate the release of “Continuum”, Mobile will play a concert on 15 March at the fabled Berghain club in Berlin. For three pieces, they will be joined by the Extended line-up.

Nik Bärtsch’s Mobile Website
Nik Bärtsch’s Mobile Facebook
ECM Records Nik Bärtsch Profile
Berghain Club Berlin

 

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