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MIK KEUSEN'S BLAU | live at Exil Zürich, march 2011



«Mik Keusen's Blau» is the name of the quartet founded by pianist and composer Mik Keusen. His first album «Mik Keusen - Blau», which was released in 2005 by the Swiss label Tonus-Music-Records, was an instant success.

In his new album «Nalu», Mik Keusen again works with a mix of repetition, minimalism, groove and ambiance. Influenced by Jazz and New Music, he now also incorporates elements of progressive pop culture. Even though his songs don’t really feature song structures, and are often based on uneven meters, some of the melodies now appear to be catchy tunes.

«„Nalu“ is term originally used in Hawaiian language, meaning wave, surf, meditation. The feeling of riding on a wave is exactly how I feel about what I want to express through my music» (Mik Keusen, 2011)

Not only is Keusen a gifted pianist and composer, he also excels in leading the band to perform in perfect harmony. The new band member, Swedish percussionist Fredrik Gille, masters a wide sound range, and he is an expert in balancing earthy beats and delicate rhythms, while double-bass player and singer Anna Trauffer contributes her own, fascinating combination of sound and song. Ronin-clarinet and saxophone player Sha adds his own, sophisticated sounds and atmosphere, and his solos are brilliant high-lights.

Most of all, however, the development of and construction of a homogenous, lyrical and sound combination which seems organic, is a product nourished by all band members to an even degree.


MIK KEUSEN'S BLAU | live at Bee-Flat Bern, march 2011


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> listen to Nalu