released February 23, 1979

REVIEWS

"Han Bennink has a new solo record. And this is a review of it. But why any writing should want to probe under the surface of this brashly attractive and simple music I can’t imagine. To what purpose? - influences, references, structures, cultural implications, psychologies, politics… the music wipes all that away like a multicolored cloth cleaning the mist off a window. The music is surface, like all good music; it doesn’t conceal anything. It is unthreatened, open and fresh, and its aim is sheer delight; it is a true playing."
- Bells

"On Solo, he becomes a virtual one-man band, moving past and through the jazz continuum from Dixieland to the avant-garde. Along the way, he tries out the banjo, trombone, harmonica, clarinet and viola for short passages, evoking the Art Ensemble of Chicago’s continuous instrumental flux. His titanic command of the drum kit is his stock-in-trade, however, and solo will not disappoint fans of the good old skins."
-Todd S. Jenkins, Free Jazz and Free Improvisation

"The playing is absolutely free and unstructured, but very much inspired. Bennink is smart enough not to get carried away by simply bashing and blowing in a relentless and noisy manner. Rather, he sets up different textures, dynamics and energy levels, providing the improvisations with a sense of direction and meaning."
-Option Magazine

"An LP full of Bennink’s raging and sometimes hilarious hi-jinks on drums, clarinet, banjo, trombone, bass clarinet, cassette recorder, etc.. Sometimes he plays a violin while using his feet on the bass drum and hi-hat. Sometimes he plays things by themselves (with no percussion accompaniment). The album opens with a brief overdubbed quartet of two drum kits and two trombones. Blistering. The second side is a non-stop live performance. He is on the edge. Never expect the obvious."
-OP Magazine

"A tour de force for Mr. Bennink. Utilizing piano, percussion, strings, reeds, harmonica, brass, feet, and just about anything else in his grasp (typewriter, tape recorder), Bennink shows both agility and ability on a variety of instruments. A fine unraveling of surprises artfully directed and imaginatively pulled off with great zest and humor."
-Cadence


Han Bennink: drums, percussion, trombone, megaphone, viola, A clarinet, banjo, stones, cassette recorder, harmonica, piano, bass clarinet, typewriter, watch, sticks, conch shell, ladder, bull-roarer

Recorded by Jost Gebers on October 13th, 1978, in Berlin.

CD mastering by Olaf Rupp.
Produced by Han Bennink & Jost Gebers.

Cover design by Han Bennink.
Photograph by R. Sötemann.