Filtron M is the creative playground and evolving sound collective led by pianist, keyboardist, composer, and producer Manu Koch. Deeply rooted in jazz and infused with the pulse of funk, global rhythms, and electronic experimentation, Filtron M filters a wide range of influences through a uniquely personal and improvisational lens—bridging acoustic tradition and synthetic innovation with a focus on groove, harmony, and emotional storytelling.

But Filtron M is more than just a musical project—it’s a living network of long-standing collaborations and international friendships. Some of these musical relationships span decades, creating a deep-rooted trust and chemistry that fuels each performance and recording. This longevity adds a rare richness to the music: a kind of conversation that only evolves through time.

That continuity is paired with variety—Filtron M thrives on surprise. Each configuration brings something new, making the project as unpredictable as it is intentional. The rotating cast of global contributors keeps the music fresh and borderless, grounded in jazz yet open to the pulse of club culture, folkloric traditions, and experimental soundscapes.

Filtron M isn’t bound by genre or geography—it’s a vessel for connection, transformation, and sonic exploration.

Born in Baar, Switzerland, Manu Koch began studying classical piano at age six, later added tenor saxophone, and jazz studies at the Jazz School Lucerne. In 1993 he moved to the U.S. to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he graduated four years later. During his time in Boston, he quickly became an in-demand freelancer, performing in projects spanning jazz, funk, hip-hop, and music rooted in Brazil, Mali, Trinidad, and Haiti. Since relocating to New York in 2000, Manu has remained deeply active as a performer, composer, and producer.

His Swiss roots, three decades of living in the U.S., and extended stays in Brazil, India, and China (Hong Kong) have deeply shaped both his worldview and his sound. Over the course of his career, he has worked with over 100 bands and artists across genres and continents, cultivating a distinctive voice grounded in jazz but always reaching outward.

As a sideman, Manu’s wide-ranging collaborations include touring and recording with Angélique Kidjo, Claudia Acuña, Prasanna, Benny Rietveld, Teodora Enache (Brody), Kofo Wonder, KJ Denhert, and the New York Gypsy All-Stars, among many others. He also shared stages with artists such as Dave Liebman, Trilok Gurtu, Mahmoud Ahmed, Cindy Blackman-Santana, Roy Hargrove, Ingrid Jensen, Mino Cinelu, Lonnie Plaxico, Donny McCaslin, Sekouba Bambino and Hüsnü Şenlendirici.