artist
willow neilson


Willow Neilson in the spotlight

BIOGRAPHY

Willow Neilson is one of Australia's leading young tenor and soprano saxophonists. Since graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium in 2000 Willow has taken his band onto win third place at the Jazz Hoelaart International Competition in Brussels in 2001 and to win third place as a soloist in both the Montreaux Jazz Festival Saxophone Competition 2003 and London Jazz Festival Saxophone Competition 2004, both held by the White Foundation. A video of Willow's performance at Montreaux with Geri Allen, Bob Hurst and Eric Harland is available for viewing on www.jazzmusic.tv/library under the White Foundation Saxophone competition heading.

Willow has recently returned from living in Shanghai where he performed at one of Shanghai's leading jazz clubs, CJW, alongside great American musicians such as Scotty Wright and ODonel Levy. Willow then went onto study with Tony Malaby, Seamus Blake, Joel Frahm and Rich Perry in New York with the assistance of an Australia Council for the Arts Professional Development grant.

While in Sydney Willow performed with people such as James Morrison, Mark Isaacs, Dave Panichi, Nick McBride, Carl Dewhurst, Lily Dior and many others. Upon his return to Australia Willow has chosen to live in Melbourne where he currently leads a quartet featuring Mark Fitzgibbon on piano, Des White on bass and second place winner of the National Drums Awards Craig Simon. An exciting new addition to the Melbourne Jazz Scene! To contact Willow, email willow@willowneilson.com

REVIEWS

"Among other things, jazz is the art of building and releasing tension, and Neilson's band gives a lesson in this on their CD, belying the members' age and experience. There is no sense of treading water or fishing for ideas as the improvising races from one action-packed episode to another leaving pools of suspense between. The drama suggests near desperation to vent ideas and energy"
John Shand
Sydney Morning Herald

"In the best traditions of its chosen style, the collective performance is where the fun really is. The talk is articulate and robust, in musical conversations between band members that are every bit as important to the action as the featured solos. Having acknowledged this though, Neilson¹s musical ideas are so mature and executed that he really sparkles throughout this recording."
Andy Sugg
Music Forum

"This Sydney tenor saxophonist has crafted an album of high artistry that requires-and rewards- close and frequent listening. Although firmly in the post-bop mould, Neilson and his excellent cohorts rise above their influences with a powerful display of group playing"
Kenny Weir
Sunday Herald Sun, Melbourne

RELEASES

WILLOW NEILSON QUARTET

 

 

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