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Manu Koch

Born in Baar, Switzerland, Koch studied classical piano from age 6 and tenor saxophone at age 18 while also taking courses at the Jazz School Lucerne. In 1993 he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated four years later. During his Boston years he became an in-demand freelancer performing with various bands and projects ranging from jazz, funk and hip-hop to music from Brazil, Mali, Trinidad and Haiti. Manu Koch relocated to New York in May 2000 where he still lives today.

His Swiss upbringing, a home base in the US for 25 years, and having resided in Brazil, India and China (Hong Kong) for extended amounts of time have formed his perception of the world and sense of sound as much as his work with over 100 artists, bands and projects throughout his professional career.

Some of his most significant sideman work includes collaborations with Angélique Kidjo (US Oyaya! touring band from 2004-2006), Santana’s musical director and former Miles Davis bassist Benny Rietveld (various projects since 2005), Romanian vocalist Teodora Enache, Nigerian talking drum master and vocalist Kofo The Wonderman (band member since 2007), Israeli flutist Mattan Klein (various projects since the late 90’s), Indian guitarist Prasanna, urban folk/jazz artist KJ Denhert, Cape Verdean vocalist Fantcha, French-Moroccan vocalist Malika Zarra, the New York Gypsy All-Stars (touring the US, Brazil, Europe and Asia from 2011-2016), and participated on 15 album productions by blues/soul artist Tomás Doncker for True Groove Records from 2012 - 2017.

Since the release of his debut album Triple Life in 2011 Manu's focus has shifted to Filtron M, his free-form project composed of a multi-national network of musicians and a platform to showcase his compositions and productions. While appearing in New York frequently as Filtron M since late 2012 Manu had the initial members divided into units as introduced on the EP Mandatory Underground (2014). The album Astoria Roots Live (2017) featured the unit of the same name live at the Iridium in New York and at Moods in Zürich with featured guests. Besides several performances in Switzerland, Filtron M also appeared at Soirée Suisse in Washington DC and at the Jazzmandu Festival in Nepal. On the new album Transit Net, set for worldwide digital release on November 26th 2021, Manu is joined by 21 musicians of 14 nationalities and expands on what Filtron M sounds and looks like.

As a professional Manu Koch has worked with Mahmoud Ahmed, James Chance, Cindy Blackman, Selamino, Lionel Loueke, Grégoire Maret, Gino Sitson, Yacouba Sissoko, Kaïssa, Joca Perpignan, Anat Cohen, Avishai Cohen, Portinho, Vanderlei Pereira, Bob Moses, Mark Simmons, Charles Haynes, Adam Deitch, Magos Herrera, Mendes Brothers and Sekouba Bambino to name a few.

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14
Album Review

Nikolett Pankovits: River

Read "River" reviewed by Friedrich Kunzmann


A dominating proportion of Hungarian lyrics paired with various Hungarian folkloric elements spread across fourteen compositions lend influential character but aren't all-defining on vocalist Nikolett Pankovits' ambitious sophomore outing, River. On the album, the Hungarian singer, based out of New York, is joined by an octet choir of handpicked Hungarian vocalists, who add complex harmonic movements and much body to traditional Hungarian songs that are treated to improvisational arrangements and Latin grooves. The result is a fusion of ...

13
Album Review

Russ Nolan: Sin Fronteras

Read "Sin Fronteras" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Sin Fronteras (without borders) is the self-titled debut album from a New York-based quartet established by an internationally-recognized group of Latin and Modern jazz musicians hailing from Colombia, Bulgaria, Switzerland and Chicago. Led by saxophonist and Latin jazz proponent Russ Nolan, the band includes Swiss pianist Manu Koch, Bulgarian bassist Trifon Dimitrov and Colombian drummer Juan Felipe Mayorga--together performing a variety of styles of music designed to appeal to anyone regardless of heritage. The band's goal was not ...

5
Album Review

Filtron M: Astoria Roots Live

Read "Astoria Roots Live" reviewed by James Nadal


In a genuine international collaborative effort, with sessions recorded in New York and Zurich, Astoria Roots Live showcases the eclectic sounds of Filtron M, performing in a live setting. Launched as a musicians' collective based out of New York under the direction of pianist/composer Manu Koch, this project has expanded into Europe and integrated musicians from around the world. Favorably compared to the work Joe Zawinul did with Weather Report and in his later recordings, Filtron M draws on that ...

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Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Transit Net

Filtron M
2021

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Sin Fronteras

Rhinoceruss Music
2020

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River

Ninwood Music
2020

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Ideki

Ninwood Music
2019

buy

A Fényes Nap

Ninwood Music
2019

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Astoria Roots Live

True Groove
2017

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