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Neil Welch

Seattle-based saxophonist Neil Welch represents a new breed of young players who thrive in today's eclectic musical atmosphere. With one foot rooted in the tradition of those who have preceded him (one can't mistake the influence of John Coltrane and Pharaoh Sanders in Welch's playing), Welch forges ahead creatively, drawing from diverse influences, under the umbrella of improvised music, with a solid foundation not often found in such a young player.

With his debut release, Narmada, Neil Welch has established himself as a creative force in the Seattle jazz scene. Joining Neil on the album are a number of Seattle's young lions, as well as world-renown sitarist Debi Prasad Chatterjee, and Tor Dietrichson on tablas- who with Neil also comprise the traditional Hindustani ensemble, Nada Brahma. Narmada effortlessly draws from Welch's diverse musical influences with an honesty that accommodates his almost spiritual approach to improvisation. The core of the rhythm section (with Chris Icasiano on drums and Luke Bergman on bass) bring a driving, post-bop approach that underpins Welch's compositions, giving the record fire, shape and unity.

Neil Welch holds a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Washington, where he studied with Michael Brockman, Vern Sielert, and Grammy-nominated pianist Marc Seales. He was a member of the Hal Sherman Big Band, and has performed with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Jay Thomas's Usual Suspects, and the Jim Cutler Big Band. Welch has performed extensively in the U.S., and abroad, including such venues as Jazz At Lincoln Center, Benaroya Hall, and the Paramount Theatre, as well as at various clubs throughout the United States, England, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium. He has shared the bandstand with Wynton Marsalis, Phil Woods, John Clayton, Brian Lynch, Bobby Shew, Terrell Stafford, Ingrid Jenson, Terri Lyne Carrington, and Scott Wendholt, among others.

From a young age, Neil Welch has been recognized for his prowess as a saxophonist. A member of the acclaimed Edmonds Woodway high school jazz ensemble, Welch participated in the Essential Ellington jazz festival at Lincoln Center, where he was presented the “Outstanding Tenor Sax Soloist” award by Wynton Marsalis. In 2003 Neil Welch was awarded a full scholarship to attend a week-long seminar conducted by the Vail Jazz Association, with such faculty as John and Jeff Clayton, Bill Cunliff, Terrel Stafford, and Lewis Nash. In 2005 Welch received the “College Tenor Saxophone Soloist” award at the Lionel Hampton Jazz festival.

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4
Album Review

Neil Welch: The Ink Around It

Read "The Ink Around It" reviewed by Ian Gwin


Music is ephemeral by nature. The conical airflow of a saxophone could be nothing more than “airy charm"—as the magician Prospero in The Tempest might have it—but this fails to substantiate its power. Though the rousing craft of Seattle composer and saxophonist Neil Welc does. In his acclaimed duo Bad Luck with drummer Chris Icasiano, he's “plucked up / the pine and cedar" through a wildly generative approach to the tenor. Combining profound humility with a tectonic techique, Welch approaches ...

3
Album Review

Bad Luck: Four

Read "Four" reviewed by Ian Gwin


For over a decade, Seattle-based duo Bad Luck—that's Neil Welch (saxophones, electronics) and Chris Icasiano (drums)—have packed and unpacked their deceptively simple formula of drums and saxophone. Through their deep musical partnership, they continue to recast the mold of contemporary music. Over countless fiery performances and three full-length releases, the depth of the duo's compositional improvisations has steadily developed, starting from the catch-as-catch-can edge of their classically free-jazz 2009 self-titled debut, moving the sprawling, heavy-metal intensity of 2011's double-album Two, ...

4
Album Review

Neil Welch: Twelve Tiny Explosions

Read "Twelve Tiny Explosions" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


It's good when an album title tells it like it is. Twelve Tiny Explosions is Seattle tenor saxophonist Neil Welch's third solo saxophone album and consists of a dozen tunes, each of which can be described as an “explosion." Welch's technical ability on his instrument of choice, sheer power and inventive musicality combine to create a challenging, mind-blowing and often rather lovely battery of sounds.As with his Boxworks (Table & Chairs, 2011), Welch fashions every sound from his ...

58
Album Review

Neil Welch: Boxwork

Read "Boxwork" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Adjectives like “extraordinary" or “stunning" are overused epithets these days, their currency diminished. Such a shame, because Boxwork, from Washington State saxophonist Neil Welch, is stunning and extraordinary--not in the devalued contemporary sense of “quite interesting" but in the good, old-fashioned sense. From its beautifully handcrafted packaging to Welch's handwritten notes to the music itself, Boxwork is a lovingly produced artifact, a truly creative mix of artistic endeavors.The album's genesis is itself extraordinary. In mid-2009, Welch and his ...

42
Album Review

Neil Welch: Sleeper

Read "Sleeper" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Sleeper is a quality product from noted Seattle new music and jazz saxophonist Neil Welch, who composed the lone 28-minute title track based on an incident that occurred during the US presence in Iraq. Sans rhythm section, Welch paints a vivid storyline, interspersing microtonal extended notes with deft subtleties and touches upon contemporary classical frameworks. Since the plot is based on a military endeavor, he generates an impassioned and intertwining progression of musical events throughout.At times listening to ...

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"Every time I get to my mail of a dozen or so CDs a day to open and slip into the player, I pray that there'll be a chestnut like Neil Welch's Narmada awaiting my ears."

- Laurence Donohue-Greene, All About Jazz, New York

"Neil Welch solos with really fine, well-developed ideas."

-Gary Mortenson, International Trumpet Guild Magazine

Primary Instrument

Saxophone, tenor

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Ink Around It

Self-Produced
2021

buy

Four

Origin Records
2018

buy

12 Tiny Explosions

Creative Sources
2013

buy

Twelve Tiny Explosions

Table & Chairs
2013

buy

Sleeper

Tables & Chairs
2012

buy

Boxwork

Table and Chairs Music
2012

buy

R.B.G.

From: Four
By Neil Welch

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