At Home by Mark Pringle

In the summer of 2019 I went through a period of starting each day with a short improvisation of around five minutes or less. I wanted to let out my very first ideas before having the chance to be influenced by other music. 'Coming in cold' always heightens one's awareness to sound and touch, a perfect headspace for free improvisation. I also wanted each time to be different, so would often react to the day before with something starkly contrasting. Through regular practice I got closer to the sounds and sonic spaces that I liked. The resulting collection of ‘songs’ is part of an ongoing process of searching for a language in a freely improvised solo piano context. Important influences (both direct and indirect) have been: Thelonious Monk, Shostakovich, Teddy Wilson, Messiaen, Kit Downes (who lends his name to a song), Keith Jarrett, Emanuele Maniscalco, Masabumi Kikuchi, Craig Taborn, Bach…

The recordings were made on my iphone at home in Berlin (apart from ‘At Home’ in my original home of Wells, Somerset). I hope you can forgive the lo-fi quality (although I always thought voice memos had a special vibe of their own), as well as occasional singing along and creaky stool.

Tracklist

1.	At Home	2:01

2.	Quinte	3:04

3.	Wolken	4:23

4.	Unison	1:52

5.	Kit Downes	3:10

6.	See Saw	3:51

7.	Double M	4:19

8.	Bright Dark	4:25

Credits

released June 5, 2020

Mark Pringle - Piano

Recorded July - September 2019 at home in Berlin, apart from 'At Home' in Wells, Somerset.

Cover photo by Mark Pringle
flickr.com/photos/jazzsnappa

License