Album Notes

Chandler's brand new album, American Storyteller marks Chris Chandler's coming of age. It contains the sound track to the new video "Something' in the Air/ But it's not on the Airwaves."

Years of relentless touring, honing his craft as a writer, performer, musician, collaborator and artist pay off with the release of this 2 disc collection of prose, poems, and stories, old and new.

The recording is a departure from his previous output, which reflected the raw enthusiasm of his live performances. Recorded over a month just outside the Beltway in Silver Springs, Maryland, the production boasts a who's who of DC area talent, including vocal cameos from Nick Annis, disappearfear, Emma's Revolution and Renaissance Faire vocalists Kathryn Falcone and Stephanie Lichtman Price.

David Roe's orchestrations are a lush mixture of the acoustic - Violin, Saxophone, Cello, Cornet, Trumpet, Accordion, Pennywhistle, Clarinet, Jews Harp;
and the electric- Tom Derr's guitars and Jamnation's Nick Newlin on Organ and Joe Dicey's rocking guitar solo. Henry Cross proves to be as adept as a bass player as an engineer and Mr. Roe provides sweet, simple piano and guitar foundations to create a sonic accompaniment to Chandler's tales.

As in his tale of childhood memories, "Crackerjack Cure", American Storyteller contains many treasures, including 3 short films by Chandler, collages, lyrics, links and a secret crackerjack surprise.

Born in Georgia, the son of a Baptist minister, Chris Chandler found his own way of spreading "The Word." He takes the pulse of America, and then with equal parts acidic irony and utopian idealism, casts his prognosis to audiences at the rate of up to 250 shows per year. Part preacher, poet, huckster, wandering minstrel and medicine show sideman, Chandler casts a spell over an audience with a slight southern drawl and conjures the profane with the profound. The historical past is mingled with the hysterical present. A gritty Americana blends with a grand oratorical style. "His wordy creations owe as much to the traditions of theater and slam poetry as to music. Chandler works with a musician, weaving his poetry with traditional songs in a way that gives the songs new life. Utah Phillips said, "He is the best performance poet I have ever seen."