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5.0 out of 5 stars
Artist Notes, October 20, 2000
The Recording Features Howard Burns on Flute / Soprano Sax and WAMMIE Award-Winning Vocalist Connie McKenna Washington, D.C. - Acoustic guitarist and independent recording artist Chuck Durfor has announced the release of his debut CD Fallen / Forgotten. Baltimore's premier soprano saxophonist, Howard Burns and WAMMIE award-winning vocalist Connie McKenna are also featured. The recording presents 9 original fingerstyle guitar compositions and also explores Celtic influences through reworking the music of British "folk-baroque" pioneers Bert Jansch and Dave Goulder. One of Washington's preeminent guitarists, Durfor derives inspiration from both British music and American country blues. Based in Washington, D.C., Durfor has played over 150 shows in the last two years from Maine to Virginia, including the Herndon Festival, the WERU Full Circle Summer Fair, (Union, ME), the Old Post Office in Washington, D.C. and the Strathmore Hall Arts Center (Bethesda, MD). Radio and television appearances include The Coffeehouse (WNETV), WERU-FM (Bangor, ME) and WAGE-AM (Leesburg, VA). The press have described Chuck's playing as a "one-man acoustical jam" and "a guitarist (who) slides his fingers down from basic chord positions into often unchartered territory...to use these techniques to blend folk, jazz, blues and ragtime." Recorded this spring at The Birdfeeder Studio in Reisterstown, MD, the CD delicately weaves acoustic 6 and 12 string guitar lines with the flute and soprano sax work of Howard Burns. Regarding Howard's contribution to the CD Chuck said, "Having previously played with Weather Report, Earth, Wind and Fire, Wilson Pickett, and the Blackbryds, permits Howard to paint on my acoustic guitar canvass with colors of jazz, Be-bop, Jamaican bounce, and heart-rendering soulfulness. Most of all his playing just lifts you 2-3 inches off the floor." The deft fretless bass and percussion of Jim Biennenman and Alan Czarnowsky complete this new age-quartet of acoustic chamber music. Special guest Connie McKenna, (1998 winner for Best Celtic Recording), described her contribution to Fallen / Forgotten as, "my singing on John Riley is the sweetest vocal recording I've ever made." Graphic arts were prepared by WAMMIE award winner Max Sadtler of Metagrafic.
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by Chuck Durfor 
