Phil Minton (b. 1940, Torquay, England) is a improvisor whose contorted vocal emissions have pushed beyond the boundaries of genre. The past four decades have heard his glossolaliac gurgles, squeaks, and deconstructed operatic flights operate within the realms of Free Improvisation, the body of Jazz itself, and varied electro-acoustic activities. Over the eras, he’s collabbed live and on record with an epic list of ace improvisors including Fred Frith, John Butcher, Bob Ostertag, and Joëlle Léandre. To this day Minton is a mainstay of London’s Café OTO scene, and regularly parries in an acoustic vocal duo with Berlin-based artist Audrey Chen (b. 1976, Illinois).

With compatible palates, and complimentary instincts they engage in an instant interplay of queue and chase, gesture and spittle. Chen herself hyperextends voice, mining material in between – and beyond – previous utterance. Finding sound via microtones of larynx squeak, blowing wind turbulence with lip-flip flutters, and plumming the corporeal with full throated phonation! She has worked with Maria Chavez, Nate Wooley, and C. Spencer Yeh among many others. Minton and Chen have toured in Europe, South America, China and the U.S. and have cut a couple records together – including a fine duo outing on Sub Rosa.