06/02/2015 (Continuous Resonance Solo Improvisation)

Neil Welch Continuous Resonance Solo Project

Date: 06/02/2015
Instrument: Tenor saxophone / Concert bass drum
Location: Band room at Chief Sealth High School. Seattle, WA
Catalogue #: 06022015

Notes:

Between teaching students this morning I found myself with a spare half hour of uninterrupted time. An incredibly large concert bass drum called me to action. I placed my mic behind one of the drum heads and explored the color of this instrument as well as my own. The booming hits were created by smacking my horn against the drum head, and the metallic swirls of sound were cause by rubbing the tip my horn’s bell against the head while gently blowing into the horn.

The image “Skidmore” 2013 accompanying today’s post by Ryan Oakes and Trevor Oakes.

05/31/2015 (Continuous Resonance Solo Improvisation)

Neil Welch Continuous Resonance Solo Project

Date: 05/31/2015
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Thornton Creek house. Seattle, WA
Catalogue #: 05312015

Notes:

During this improvisation I intermittently inserted and removed a foot long, home made dog toy made of yarn into and out of my bell. Moments before recording this piece the toy was given to me (and my dog) by my neighbor.

The image accompanying today’s post by Uta Barth

05/29/2015 (Continuous Resonance Solo Improvisation)

Neil Welch Continuous Resonance Solo Project

Date: 05/29/2015
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Practice Room B at South Whidbey High School. Langley, WA (Whidbey Island)
Catalogue #: 05292015

Notes:

This improvisation documents the exploration of my friend Levi Gillis’ horn, who graciously let me use it while my instrument was at the doctor.

The image “Fields at Dusk, Barton, North Yorkshire from the portfolio A1: The Great North Road” (November, 1982) accompanying today’s post by Paul Graham.

05/27/2015 (Continuous Resonance Solo Improvisation)

Neil Welch Continuous Resonance Solo Project

Date: 05/27/2015
Instrument: Tenor saxophone
Location: Thornton Creek house. Seattle, WA
Catalogue #: 05272015

Notes:

I recorded this improvisation about 2 hours before finalizing my divorce. I have felt remarkably at ease over the past month in the lead up to this day, almost at peace I would say. But just before leaving home for the courthouse I was overcome by a wave of fear and anxiety in facing this change today. As has happened so many times in my life my only respite became the horn. This improvisation is the documentation of these colliding emotions caught on tape in the moments after reaching for my sanctuary–resonance.

The image “Male Nude, Third Series” (1983) accompanying today’s post by Rossella Bellusci.