A morning meditation at Cape Alava on the Washington State coast, this brief improvisation was recorded in the early morning before striking out on a walk, crawl and climb down the coastline. Cape Alava is a rugged landscape near the northern most point of the Olympic Peninsula, historically home to the Makah Tribe.
While backpacking near Mount Baker, just off the Chain Lakes trail in WA state, saxophonist Neil Welch documented a soprano improvisation in the high mountains. This brief piece was recorded on top of a boulder perch, with the sun-baked North Cascades in all directions.
Covering a wide array of topics, from the craftwork of improvisation as composition, to the role of nature as creative inspiration, the importance of embracing each individual in music education, and never-before-heard clips of my recent works, this 1.5 hour interview offers listeners a detailed account of my life as a working artist. Originally broadcast in full, it is broken down into 4 parts below. Many thanks to Bill Kautz of KBGA Radio in Missoula, MT for this extensive and comprehensive interview.
The full (unbroken) interview can be listened to by streaming at the link HERE.
From a preview with host Bill Kautz, a.k.a “Silver Sprocket”
“Neil is a very passionate and dedicated artist who routinely produces deeply rooted, meaningful and intentional music. He is also constantly exploring new sonic territory on the saxophone with intoxicating zeal. We'll explore his solo work, his recent compositions Composition for Saxophone and Woodcutter and No House on Fire, No. his long standing collaboration with Christopher Icasiano in the well-known duo Bad Luck and dig into his philosophy of music education.”
Isolation Experiment #2
Christian Pincock—Soundpainting Director (Seattle, WA, USA)
Neil Welch—Bass Saxophone (Seattle, WA, USA)
Miray Eslek—Clarinet (Istanbul, Turkey)
John O' Brien—Drumset (New York City, NY, USA)
“The conducting video was recorded by itself and sent to Neil to respond. The two videos were combined and sent to Miray for a response. These three were combined and sent to John for a response and this final video is the combination of the four videos.'“
Jen Gilleran is a drummer, percussionist, sound designer and teacher. She is on staff at Earwig Studio as engineer and producer. She has performed at past Wayward Series events and often sets music to film. Please visit her website: jengilleran.com "Flat Felled Seam" ‘A seam created by folding raw sides of fabric into one another. A seam that will not fray.’ Jen Gilleran: sounds, drums and design Neil Welch: sounds and saxophone Sincere gratitude to Neil Welch & Steve Peters.
"This is Jen Gilleran and Neil Welch, sending you a gift in the form of a 23 minute composition titled 'Flat Felled Seam.' This piece was commissioned by Nonsequitur for the Wayward Music Series Wayward In Limbo podcast, and it streams for free at waywardmusic.org
We have collaborated before, but what we have created here is entirely new to us - all that is happening is entirely new for each of us. It is with this awareness and immediacy that we offer 'Flat Felled Seam' to you as a beacon from a familiar ship - way in the distance and as close as breath. We love all of you, and we are so grateful for your ears and your own experience.
Keep safe and we will continue to find each other.
Please listen with headphones if possible.
Much Love,
Jen and Neil
alto, tenor and bass saxophones, mouthpieces, reeds and body
electronic processing
wood chopping and stacking
shruti box
tin foil, paper, harmon mute