Album Notes

Chalfant and Warren first met at small gathering for Cecil Taylor in Boston. As they sat around a table with Cecil and a few others, they instantaneously erupted into an explosive vocal percussion duet. Taking that approach to the piano and drums, they continued their percussive exchange into what eventually became this album. Originally recorded in 1992, this analog recording was digitized and remastered for the current CD. This lively percussive exchange is engaging to those who thrive on rhythm. It’s rich, it’s complex, it’s out there.

Noted for her unique style as composer and improviser, Chris Chalfant is a lyrical, rhythmically compelling, and powerful, innovative driving force in the world of jazz, new and improvised music. Her work has draws largely from traditional folk music of Africa, jazz and classical music, and has been compared to Andrew Hill, Charles Ives, Mal Waldron, Cecil Taylor, Stravinsky, Keith Jarrett, Webern, Meridith Monk, Thelonious Monk and a Buddhist monk.

Dennis Warren is most known for his project Full Metal Revolutionary Jazz Ensemble. Initiated in 1989. Dennis studied with Cecil Taylor at Antioch College in 1971 where he met the late great Raphe Malik, one of FMRJE’s main composers. We went on to study with Milford Graves at Bennington College in 1974. Twenty years later FMRJE still goes strong with its explosive, quantum free spontaneous music with current members and more band info on the fmrje site.