Nat Bartsch is a pianist and composer based in Melbourne, Australia who creates lyrical, meditative work that explores the space between classical and jazz genres.[1][2]

Career

Early years

She began classical piano lessons from the age of 4, and following high school she completed a Diploma of Music Performance at Box Hill Institute, where she began to discover the world of jazz and contemporary playing.[3] Bartsch grew up listening to Radiohead, Sigur Ros and Elbow. later discovering artists like Tord Gustavsen, Nik Bärtsch, Marcin Wasilewski Trio and Arvo Pärt.[4] In 2006 Bartsch completed a Bachelor of Music Performance (improvisation) at the Victorian College of the Arts. Upon graduation she was awarded the inaugural Lionel Gell Foundation Travelling Scholarship.[5]

2010-2013: Nat Bartsch Trio

Bartsch's career began as bandleader/composer for the jazz ensemble Nat Bartsch Trio, influenced by Scandinavian and Australian jazz, and studies with Tord Gustavsen and Nik Bärtsch. They released their Springs, for all the Winters album on Rufus/ABC Jazz in 2010, and To Sail, To Sing independently in 2013. Her trio toured Japan twice, and performed in Europe supporting Abdullah Ibrahim's Ekaya in 2013.[6]

2014-present: Solo career

In 2014 Bartsch shifted away from jazz and focused on the creation of solo piano and chamber music works, drawing more upon neoclassical and neo-romantic influences. A developing friendship/collaboration with fellow pianist Luke Howard led to the creation of her debut solo album Hometime in 2017.[7]

Bartsch has become most well known for her lullabies, which, during early motherhood, saw her translate her gentle aesthetic into music with purpose. She created a suite of pieces designed to soothe babies to sleep (influenced by music therapy), but that would also be meaningfully enjoyable for adults.[8] The resulting album, Forever, and No Time At All was released in 2018 on ABC Classic, with a jazz sextet re-interpretation, Forever More, released in 2020.[9]

In 2021 she released her fourth solo album Hope. Bartsch said the title "abbreviates both hopefulness and hopelessness".

Bartsch has composed chamber music commissions for Plexus Collective, Solstice Trio, Matt Withers/Sally Whitwell and The Muses Trio. She was the recipient of the 2020 Catherine Mary Sullivan scholarship, 2020 Classical:NEXT Artistic Associate Fellowship, 2019 Johnny Dennis Music Award, 2010 Melbourne Prize for Music Development Award and the 2007 Lionel Gell Travelling Fellowship. She has also performed with artists in many contemporary genres as a pianist/keyboardist, including Whitaker, Thando, Timothy Coghill, Sweet Jean, Matt Corby and Circus Oz.[10] At the 2023 Art Music Awards he won Work of the Year: Jazz for Busy/Quiet, which was performed by his quartet and Ellen Kirkwood and Loretta Palmeiro.[11][12]

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected details
Title Details
Springs, For All the Winters
(as Nat Bartsch Trio)
  • Released: 2010
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: Rufus Records (RF110)
To Sing, To Sail
(as Nat Bartsch Trio)
  • Released: May 2013
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: Rufus Records (RF110)
Home Time
  • Released: 2017
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: Nat Bartsch (NBT002)
Forever and No Time At All
  • Released: May 2018
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: Nat Bartsch
Forever More
  • Released: July 2020
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: ABC Music (088 8458)
Hope
  • Released: May 2021
  • Format: CD, Digital
  • Label: ABC Music (4855760)

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 Hope Best Independent Classical Album or EP Nominated [13][14]

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are presented annually since 1987 by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2020Forever MoreARIA Award for Best Jazz AlbumNominated[15]
2021HopeARIA Award for Best Classical AlbumNominated

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2021 Nat Bartsch Arts Access Amplify Award (for Deaf and Disabled acts) Nominated [16][17]
2022 Nat Bartsch Arts Access Amplify Award Nominated [18]
2023 Nat Bartsch Best Jazz Work Nominated [19]

References

  1. ↑ "Composer Nat Bartsch on Creating Hope". ZoneOut. 7 May 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Nat Bartsch : Represented Artist Profile : Australian Music Centre". www.australianmusiccentre.com.au. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "About". Nat Bartsch. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  4. ↑ Paul, Dougherty (6 March 2020). "Nat Bartsch - On Gender and Motherhood in Music". ZoneOut. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "Nat Bartsch | Australian Jazz Real Book". australianjazzrealbook.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "Nat Bartsch Trio – To Sail, To Sing". Birdland Records. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "GETTING TO KNOW: NAT BARTSCH". STREET TALK. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Forever, and No Time At All - Nat Bartsch". ABC Music. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Forever More. Nat Bartsch Sextet | Loud Mouth - The Music Trust Ezine". 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  10. ↑ "About". Nat Bartsch. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "2023 Art Music Award Winners". APRA AMCOS. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "2023 Art Music Awards finalists announced". APRA AMCOS. 12 July 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  13. ↑ "Nominees Announced For AIR Independent Music Awards 2022". musicfeeds. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  14. ↑ Tyler Jenke (5 August 2022). "Genesis Owusu Wins Big At The 2022 AIR Awards". MusicFeeds. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  15. ↑ ARIA Award previous winners. "ARIA Awards Best Jazz Album". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  16. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards Reveals Line-up And Nominees for 2021". Noise11. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  17. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards 2021 Winners". scenestr.com.au. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Music Victoria Awards 2022 Nominees for Industry-Voted Categories Announced". Music Victoria. 27 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  19. ↑ "Nominees, Hall of Fame Inductees Announced for 2023 Music Victoria Awards". Music Feeds. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
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