On November 13, 2020 the discovery label ACT has released the new album Janne Mark, Kontinent with Arve Henriksen:
En oas för själen att vila sig vid.
Crystal clear complexity.
Epitome of tender intimacy.
This deeply original album carries two signatures: Janne Marks and Arve Henriksens.
One of the most remarkable albums of 2020.
Powerful and memorable, this is music for the ages.
An elaborate spiritual odyssey.
An important record.
A streak of masterpieces.
An extraordinary album.
Most beautiful.
A little masterpiece.
Sparkling songs from cold regions.
Characteristically Mark and Henriksen.
“Kontinent is an exploration of the world.”
An album of particular beauty that expresses well – as in Mark’s intentions – the sounds of slowness and silence.
“A fascinating journey into different worlds, linked by Mark’s (beautiful) voice, by the successful arrangements and by jazz as a language that unites everything in a new and original whole.”
Gorgeous!
“Arve Henriksens’ delicate and beautiful trumpet playing glides along with Marks vocals as if they had never done otherwise.”
Radiantly clear. In these ethereal landscapes, it sometimes appears that souls seem more alive than the living!
“Janne Mark’s clear diction, and the apparent simplicity that emanates from it, works wonders and offers the listener, through its harmonious expressiveness, a pure moment of contemplative introspection.”
Indispensable!
“Sometimes there are albums that reveals moments of ecstasy and contemplation, as is the case here with this very beautiful album by Janne Mark.”
Lovely and delicate.
“Mark’s intimate vocal style at times resembling a Danish version of Norma Winstone or late period Kate Bush is beautifully counterpointed by the whispery softness and vocal expressiveness of the trumpet of Arve Henriksen.“
Neun Lieder für Gemeindegesang und Chor.
“Entstanden durch eine Zufallsbegegnung im Kloster Loccum. Wir freuen über diese schöne Ausgabe!”
Musik und Kirche – Die Zeitschrift für Kirchenmusik.
“Zunächst unbemerkt von der kirchenmusikalischen Öffentlichkeit sind im vergangenen Jahr einige neue Lieder aus Dänemark eingewandert. Im Juni 2019 war die Sängerin und Komponistin Janne Mark (*1973) dann zu Gast auf dem Dortmunder Kirchentag gewesen – im Gepäck die Lieder ihres Albums „Pilgrim“, das 2018 beim renommierten Jazzlabel ACT erschienen ist.”
Offenes Singen, Kirchentag Dortmund 2019.
“Beim Kirchentag werden sieben Lieder der Jazz-Sängerin zum ersten Mal auf deutsch zu hören sein. Es sind hochpolitische Lieder, die sich gegen den restriktiven Umgang mit Asylbewerbern wenden.”
Ten tracks that are to be the master of a reflexive music.
“In short, an album that makes us know a musician of great depth, fascinating, mature, with an exquisite sensitivity and great writing skills. Furthermore it confirms Arve Henriksen as one of the most outstanding personalities of today’s jazz scene in Northern Europe.”
Præmiering ‘PILGRIM’ Statens Kunstfond / ‘PILGRIM’ awarded by Danish Arts Foundation.
“Janne Mark har de senere år markeret sig stærkere og stærkere som en fantastisk salmedigter og komponist, og på sin seneste udgivelse “Pilgrim” forløser hun denne kunst i fornemt samspil med bl.a. den norske trompetist Arve Henriksen.”
“Janne Mark has over the past years marked herself stronger and stronger as a fantastic hymn writer and composer, and with her latest release “Pilgrim” she redeems this art in distinguished interaction with, among others, the Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen.”
Marlbank, Albums of the year 2018.
“Numinous hymnal surprise of the year from a talented singer with a unique timbre.”
JAZZNYTPRISEN 2018 tildelt af Niels Overgård.
“Janne Mark laver musik til nutiden. Den er et samlingspunkt. Et sted hvor man samler sig. Hvor man finder ro. Janne Mark laver også musik til eftertiden. Det er langtidsholdbare salmer der fortjener at blive brugt og hørt af mange mennesker.”
“Janne Mark makes music for the present. It is a meeting point. A place where one gathers. Where one finds peace. Janne Mark makes also music for the posterity. It is longlasting hymns that deserves to be used and heard by many people.”
Sang- og salmeskriver af Guds nåde.
“Med et musikalsk udtryk der kan betegens som “melankolsk dur”, ligger musikken på Janne Marks udgivelse PILGRIM langt fra, hvad andre danske vokalister udgiver. Sangene/salmerne indeholder en dyb melodisk enkelhed, inderlighed og skønhed.”
Uendelig vackert.
“Pilgrim” har det meste i seg til å bli et album som vil sette spor etter seg både nå og i mange år fremover. På den eneste hymnen Mark ikke har skrevet her, “Gå stille og tyst”, formidler hun det jeg håper ikke skal skje med musikken sin. Jeg håper nemlig at hun skal bli hørt av mange – både troende og alle oss andre. Janne Mark har nemlig noe viktig å melde.”
Uttrycket är oförställt, röstklangen luftigt stjärnklar.
“En långsamhetens lov, där sångerna blir till snöflingor som singlar ned i slowmotion, mot gatlampans gula sken.”
Himmelrummet åbner sig en smule og tilværelsen giver pludselig mening som aldrig før.
“Med ‘Pilgrim’ har Janne Mark og hendes musikere præsteret et af de smukkeste, væsentligste, mest personlige og vigtigste vokalalbum længe hørt herhjemme. Tak for den gave!”
Delicate, inspiring and uplifting.
“The haunting musical phrases combine the mix of sadness and hope that is the Easter story. This just goes to show that, contrary to popular belief, the Devil doesn’t get all the best tunes.”
Warm, contemporary folky delivery.
“The unique voice of Arve Henriksen is close to being Marks’ singing partner.”
Dänische Kirchenlieder per Mail.
“Janne Marks unverstellte Stimme ist ein Teil der Faszination ihrer Musik.”
New releases.
“Pilgrim is a showcase for the hauntingly lovely contemporary Christian hymns of Janne Mark and confirms both her orthodoxy and her sincerity.”
(4/5)
“This project has a gentle reposing quality where folk fans will feel very much at home.”
*****(5/6)
“Når ord og toner smelter så smukt sammen, som Janne Mark og Arve Henriksen formår at gøre det, ja, så kan man da næppe andet end åbne ører og sjæl og overgive sig.”
7777 (4/5)
“Janne Mark succeeds in combining the sacral with Scandinavian folk music and jazz and creates new life in the hymnal tradition.”
Jazz-Vocals – Domäne der Damen.
“Zauberhafte Musik.”
Janne Marks stemme sammen med Arve Henriksens trompet er i særklasse.
“Ambitionsniveauet er tårnhøjt og holder hele vejen. Janne Mark må være den første danske sangerinde der lanceres internationalt, hvor der synges på dansk.”
An entirely convincing cd.
“With her glass-clear voice and the intensity of – only virtual – simplicity Janne Mark aims right in the middle of the soul.”