Nik Bartsch's Ronin - Holon

[GA Russell]

Nik Bartsch's Ronin will have a new album called Holon released Feb. 5 (aka Super Tuesday and Mardi Gras), and they will be touring the US promoting it:

February 23 - Portland, OR - Portland Jazz Festival

February 25 & 26 - Los Angeles, CA - Jazz Bakery

February 27 - Ann Arbor, MI - Firefly

February 28 - Boston, MA - Regattabar

February 29 - Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theater

March 3 - Washington DC - Blues Alley

March 4 - Columbus, OH - Wexner Center

March 5 - New York City - Joe’s Pub

March 7 - San Francisco, CA - SF Jazz - YBCA Forum

We had a thread on his last album called Stoa which I really enjoyed. I'm looking forward to this new one.

Edited February 9, 2008 by GA Russell

[GregK]

I might check them out @ the Firefly. If I can find it, now that it has moved.

[ejp626]

What the hell. They can play Ann Arbor and Columbus, but they can't play Chicago?

They would have been a perfect fit at HotHouse, but of course that is gone.

I also like Stoa and have listened to it quite a bit over the last month. I will get the new one fairly soon, though I probably would have bought it sooner (at their show) if they had come to Chicago.

[WorldB3]

I pre ordered Holon a month ago, can't wait. Will have to check them out at SF Jazz fest as well.

Edited January 28, 2008 by WorldB3

[jmjk]

Shit. The only dates near me are on nights I can't go!

I'm looking forward to the new album. I thought Stoa was great!---still do, actually.

[WorldB3]

I have given Holon a couple spins and have to say it phenomenal.

A bit different than Stoa but just as good.

[GregK]

I don't know, I don't hear much difference other than the more funkiness of Holon, and of course the alto solos.

[king ubu]

good to see some of you diggin' a homeboy of mine... I never caught him live, but seing this makes me think even more that I should! (I think when he's not on tour, he's still doing regular gigs in town - they used to be weekly public rehearsals, but I never made it...)

[GA Russell]

I've been listening to Holon for a week now, and I like it a lot.

It really is not what I expected. Stoa was straight out of Philip Glass's bag. I like Glass, although I don't listen to him very often, and I liked Stoa in part because it was my first minimalist album in years.

Holon is not a minimalist album, although there are parts of songs where they get into that mode. It reminds me of what some of the Canterbury groups were doing in the 70s, particularly Hatfield and the North, and maybe National Health.

The songs on Holon have beats that make you want to get up out of your chair, which Stoa did not. Holon's electric bass is in the foreground, like Richard Sinclair's of Hatfield.

Holon sounds like it might be a transition album from the minimalism of Stoa to the prog rock of Hatfield. I suppose whether they continue the transition will depend in part on how the audiences of their tour respond to their new sound. Too bad they won't be coming to my area.

[WorldB3]

I've been listening to Holon for a week now, and I like it a lot.

It really is not what I expected. Stoa was straight out of Philip Glass's bag. I like Glass, although I don't listen to him very often, and I liked Stoa in part because it was my first minimalist album in years.

Holon is not a minimalist album, although there are parts of songs where they get into that mode. It reminds me of what some of the Canterbury groups were doing in the 70s, particularly Hatfield and the North, and maybe National Health.

The songs on Holon have beats that make you want to get up out of your chair, which Stoa did not. Holon's electric bass is in the foreground, like Richard Sinclair's of Hatfield.

Holon sounds like it might be a transition album from the minimalism of Stoa to the prog rock of Hatfield. I suppose whether they continue the transition will depend in part on how the audiences of their tour respond to their new sound. Too bad they won't be coming to my area.

I agree. Well said. I will let you know how the show is when they play in SF. I hear live they are less restrained.

Off to go look up Hatfield.

Edited February 26, 2008 by WorldB3

[A Lark Ascending]

I've been listening to Holon for a week now, and I like it a lot.

It really is not what I expected. Stoa was straight out of Philip Glass's bag. I like Glass, although I don't listen to him very often, and I liked Stoa in part because it was my first minimalist album in years.

Holon is not a minimalist album, although there are parts of songs where they get into that mode. It reminds me of what some of the Canterbury groups were doing in the 70s, particularly Hatfield and the North, and maybe National Health.

The songs on Holon have beats that make you want to get up out of your chair, which Stoa did not. Holon's electric bass is in the foreground, like Richard Sinclair's of Hatfield.

Holon sounds like it might be a transition album from the minimalism of Stoa to the prog rock of Hatfield. I suppose whether they continue the transition will depend in part on how the audiences of their tour respond to their new sound. Too bad they won't be coming to my area.

I had these two records (which I've not heard) written off as 'wispy minimalism', something that doesn't do it for me - but your Hatfield and Sinclair references have me curious. Are their girl singers with perfect diction (the Roninettes?)?

Edited February 26, 2008 by Bev Stapleton

[GA Russell]

Off to go look up Hatfield.

World, I should have mentioned that Hatfield used electric instruments, while Ronin uses acoustic (except bass). So it's possible for one to like one group and not the other for that reason.

But if you like Holon, I bet you will like Hatfield's first album even more.

[GA Russell]

I had these two records (which I've not heard) written off as 'wispy minimalism', something that doesn't do it for me - but your Hatfield and Sinclair references have me curious. Are their girl singers with perfect diction (the Roninettes?)?

Bev, no Roninettes!

My linkage of Holon with Hatfield's first album is based primarily upon the similarities of the electric basses' interaction with the keyboards.

I consider the Hatfield album to be superior, but I enjoy Holon in part because I haven't heard anything like it for thirty years!

edit for typo

Edited February 26, 2008 by GA Russell

[GregK]

I'm hoping to be able to make it to tomorrow night's set in Ann Arbor, but I've been awfully sick all week so I'm not sure if I'll be able to.

[Rob C]

I picked up Holon last week and have been enjoying it a lot. Do I need to check out Stoa now?

[WorldB3]

I picked up Holon last week and have been enjoying it a lot. Do I need to check out Stoa now?

I like them both. Holon is bit more beat oriented but Stoa is worth your time if you are enjoying Holon.

They put on a great in SF, mingled with the crowd afterwards as they said they would to "answer questions or take criticism". They were sold out of their CD's that were not put out on ECM. Nik said he would mail some to my friend because he had the only review of Stoa on Amazon for 8 months and remembered him from their very first US show that they played in NY. Cool bunch of guys.

Edited March 11, 2008 by WorldB3