Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 02/25/2014
Location: Chief Sealth High School. Seattle, WA
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed Acoustically
Notes:
This improvisation was recorded in a small theatre at Chief Sealth High School, mid-day between teaching my students and practicing.
The image “Four Generations” accompanying today’s post by Seb Patane (2004).
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 02/16/2014
Location: Champoeg State Park, Oregon
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Performed Acoustically
Notes:
My wife and I spent the weekend exploring Champoeg State Park, located 20 or so miles South of Portland. We stayed in a simple, canvas yurt. The weather was severe, with flooding throughout the surrounding farms and lowland forests. The mighty Willammut River itself was several feet above the typical water level, jumping the banks and is some spots and flowing onto the roads beside it. We were told by local folks that this was typical during heavy rains this time of year.
Between downpours, the wind would whip against the side of the yurt. I recorded today’s improvisation during a rare calm in the weather, though during the improvisation the outer canvas windows can be heard occasionally slapping the side of the yurt when the wind picked up. The howl of the wind in the trees beside us is audible as well.
The image accompanying today’s post is a still shot from a cell phone video, depicting Miami artist Maximo Caminero smashing a pot by Chinese artist Weiwei. This act was done in defiance to the lack of local artist representation at the new Perez Art Museum Miami. Caminero stated that “It was a spontaneous protest,” he explains. “I was at PAMM and saw Ai Weiwei’s photos behind the vases where he drops an ancient Chinese vase and breaks it. And I saw it as a provocation by Weiwei to join him in an act of performance protest.”
Date: 02/09/2014
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Performed acoustically
Notes:
I recorded two improvisations today, labeled “Initial Version” and “Final Version” respectively. After recording the Initial Version, I ultimately felt that I had not fulfilled the mission of the improvisation and decided to use this take as an initial springboard for further development. I recorded a second piece with a complimentary, and in my estimation, more successful overall approach, noted here as the Final Version.
The image “Her Affect On Branches” accompanying this post by Ernesto Caivano (2009).
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 01/23/2014
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Performed acoustically
The image “The Start of the Rain” accompanying this post by Hernan Bas (2004).
Neil Welch, Continuous Resonance Project
Date: 01/31/2014
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)
Performed acoustically
The image accompanying this post by Marc Riboud.
Notes:
This morning I spent a few hours in a coffee shop on the island. Sitting in the empty front room, I read from “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn, of which I’ve been working my way through this past month. I’m currently on the chapter “Impossible Victory: Vietnam.” I was particularly horrified by the description of the My Lai killings:
“There was an order to shoot by Lieutenant Calley, I can’t remember the exact words–it was something like ‘Start Firing.’
"Meadlo tuned to me and said: 'Shoot, why don’t you shoot?’
"He was crying.”
“I said, 'I can’t. I won’t.’
"Then Lieutenant Calley and Meadlo pointed their rifles into the ditch and fired.
"People were diving on top of each other; mothers were trying to protect their children…”
(quotations from “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn).
