Mark Hennen has been at the center of the avant-garde Jazz scene in New York City for decades. A world renowned pianist and pioneer of the sound, Hennen has worked in the music industry for nearly 50 years. He has performed as a solo artist and as a member of acclaimed groups like Collective 4tet, Earth People and his current ensemble Piano Duo Trio.
Over the past year Mark Hennen has produced an impressive volume of new material. He and his fellow Piano Duo Trio members, Jackson Krall and John Blum are exploring the farthest regions of a musical form that already exists at the outer limits of artistic expression. The world of avant-garde improvisational Jazz is not for the timid musician or listener. It is the sound of world-class musicians pushing themselves into previously unimagined realms of melody and rhythm.
“Mark Solo” is the latest release from Mark Hennen, released worldwide to all major streaming services on February 10, 2022. Recorded live at Piano Magic in New York City, the 26 minute piece finds the pianist riding solo and at the top of his game as he serves up a wild set of melodic and rhythmic experimentation.
Through much of the piece he keeps the energy level high. Each note is percussive, as complex melodies weave in and out of syncopated rhythms and sub-rhythms. The performance brings to mind some of Herbie Hancock’s work in the early 70’s with his ‘Herbie Hancock Septet.’ The dynamic shifts during the final five minutes of the performance. The percussive wall of sound gives way to a psychedelic vibe. However, although the sound mellows the musical sophistication does not. There are layers within layers of sound. If the Herbie comparison is valid, it is only so in reference to style, not in number. Mark Hennen is doing his thing with only one musician, not seven.
Check out ‘Mark Solo’ below, or listen on your favorite streaming service. Follow the links below to connect with Mark Hennen. Get on his socials, dig into his rich back catalog and get in the loop on all of the music to come from this visionary artist.