Soprano Improvisation: Mount Baker Wilderness

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.

4-part Radio Interview with KBGA Radio

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.”

SCRAMBLER TRIO: SOUNDPAINTING COLLABORATION (NEW YORK, ISTANBUL, SEATTLE)

A note from Soundpainting Director Christian Pincock:

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.'“

Collaboration 'Flat Felled Seam' with percussionist and composer Jen Gilleran

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.

A note from the composers:

"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

On this recording, Neil plays:

alto, tenor and bass saxophones, mouthpieces, reeds and body

electronic processing 

wood chopping and stacking

shruti box

tin foil, paper, harmon mute

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.