New Podcast Recording | 45 Minute Solo Saxophone Performance

Saxophonist and composer Neil Welch is a Seattle-based artist whose work is rooted in improvisation, using a variety of sound techniques that explore deep resonances within the saxophone. His work embraces a variety of musical styles, spanning avant-garde jazz, modern composition, solo acoustic saxophone and electronic sound processing. He performs as a solo artist, in addition to the longtime drum/saxophone collaboration Bad Luck. http://neilwelch.com/ This recorded work is a series of acoustic improvisations, documented in a single performance while at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Each piece navigates a varied sonic landscape, with techniques that include: mouthpiece only, singing into the instrument, conical air flow migrations without the mouthpiece, pushing air in and out of a grouping of saxophone necks, pitched melody and multiphonic clusters. Saxophone voices used include the soprano, alto, tenor and bass saxophones, at times modified to include items such as: scrap metal, noah bells, a beer can, harmon mute and tin foil.

ARTIST STATEMENT FROM NEIL WELCH

This recorded work is a series of acoustic improvisations, documented in a single performance while at home during the Covid-19 pandemic. Each piece navigates a varied sonic landscape, with techniques that include: mouthpiece only, singing into the instrument, conical air flow migrations without the mouthpiece, pushing air in and out of a grouping of saxophone necks, pitched melody and multiphonic clusters. Saxophone voices used include the soprano, alto, tenor and bass saxophones, at times modified to include items such as: scrap metal, noah bells, a beer can, harmon mute and tin foil.

More music on the Wayward in Limbo podcast can be found HERE.

New Quarantine Track: "Fields"

Artist Statement | from Neil Welch

“Sacramento-based guitarist Ross Hammond and I have collaborated on two new tracks while in quarantine. Ross and I met years ago on my first tour down the coast. Since then we have grown to become friends and collaborators, working together in one form or another at least once a year. A few days ago Ross sent me two tracks with a simple prompt--"do your thing." That's trust right there.

I am always inspired by Ross' musicianship. He is a deep player, and one of the strongest examples I have of an artist that goes goes goes no matter what. He is also one of the kindest people I know, which makes creating music with him very important to me. From start to finish these tracks were wrapped up in 3 days. I hope you dig them.”

New work debut Friday, Nov. 22nd. "No house on fire, no."

Friday, November 22nd I am thrilled to debut a major new work entitled "No house on fire, no." Scored for 5 musicians (flute, viola, double bass, saxophone, mixed piano/voice) the piece was commissioned by the outstanding performance ensemble Kin of the Moon. This 30 minute work was nearly 1.5 years in the making, and Friday will be our premier.

No house on fire, no. is sonically reflective of natural landscapes and a mediation on a poem by Alaska native poet Joan Naviyuk Kane. You will hear sounds of wind brushing against open fields of grass, breath tightly pushed and pulled from the chest, rhythms hewn from phonetic text painting, and dynamic melodies using tempered and non-tempered tunings. Every musician is asked to use virtuosic techniques on their instrument, with the score consisting of graphic material I developed specifically for this ensemble.

Friday, November 22nd
Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center
$5-15 sliding scale
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/464628747728956/

No house 1.jpg