A singular piece, standing at close to half hour long, Mark Hennen’s EP ‘Mark Solo’ is a remarkable journey to sit through. The renowned Jazz pianist from New York City has been active in the industry for half a century, working as a solo artist and as a member of a myriad of groups. On Mark Solo, he’s taken a far more experimental and improvisational approach. The record sounds a bit chaotic, slightly haywire, a whole kerfuffle that has you feeling entirely overwhelmed and out of breath from the word go. Far from an easy listen like a lounge jazz record, Mark Solo is for the listeners who want a bit more edge and sparkle to their jazz.
The record sees the pianist riding solo, completely on top of his game and delivering a wholly immersive, almost tribal and visceral compilation of high energy experimental jazz sounds. Every note feels like a beat, a percussive slap that elevates the song continually and increasingly. Amidst the background, you can hear a complex confluence of a whole slew of different instruments that mesh together into an intricate mosaic that seemingly changes patterns and colours with each passing note.
The dynamic shifts during the final five minutes of the record. The percussive layer soon starts to recede, giving way to a psychedelic air. There’s so much happening, so many distinct layers that are immediately indecipherable, but on closer listen start to showcase the complexities vividly.
A remarkably impressive piece that requires your undivided attention.