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Willow Neilson

Willow Neilson is a musician, composer, educator and writer

About Me

Willow Neilson was born in the small hippy town of Nimbin, Australia. His parents were entertainers and environmental activists, Willow spent the early years of his life marching in protests or sleeping in his father’s velvet lined guitar case whilst his parents performed their original musical and theatrical satires. At ten years old he took up the harmonica, practicing blues music with his father in their living room. At 14 he began the saxophone and fell in love with jazz music.

Willow Neilson went on to graduate as one of the top three students in his year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music then took out 3rd place in three international competitions; Jazz Hoelaart International Competition in Brussels in 2001, Montreaux Jazz Festival Saxophone Competition 2003 and London Jazz Festival Saxophone Competition 2004 both run by the White foundation.

After many years of performing with some of Australia’s top musicians, Willow travelled Europe and the US performing and studying, finally settling in Shanghai in 2007 with the support of an Asialink Arts Residency/ China-Australia council Fellowship which aided him in the beginning stages of musical projects working with Chinese ethnic minority musicians and local Shanghai artists such as Coco Zhao. He is currently in Chennai, India studying Carnatic music with some of the members of the Sruthi Laya ensemble.

In 2011 Willow launched his new album Lightbulb Life. Through both electronic sampling, electric and acoustic instrumentation his music incorporates the soundscape of the city of Shanghai and all its cultural assets. It features Jing Song, a Naxi vocalist from Li Jiang, vocalist Coco Zhao as well as the wealth of musicians working in Shanghai and Hong Kong. For more information please visit lightbulblife.com or willowneilson.com

“Neilson’s interpretation of the melodies we ignore everyday sends a thought-provoking message. Perhaps the next time I hear that guy on his bike marketing refrigerator-repair skills I’ll feel something other than rage. Lightbulb Lives exemplifies a different way to listen to the world around us. Lemonade out of lemons; music out of noise.”

-Jenn Chan Lyman- Urbanatomy.com

A recording of a Shanghai taxi meter plays, welcoming the rider aboard, while an advertisement for a company that books tables at local restaurants plays in the background. The advert’s service number, 5757 5777, sounding like the words for “I eat (wo chi); I eat, I eat, I eat eat eat” in Chinese are made explicit. As the recording is repeated, a tight, syncopated groove slowly fades in and the words are mimicked by Willow Nielsen on his saxophone. This track, 'Taxi', encapsulates what is most striking about Lightbulb Life. It's fiendishly clever, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's eclectic, but it manages to be easily accessible. It's technically masterful, but it doesn't come across as stodgy. It manages instead to be downright cool. Much like the city of Shanghai in which it was composed, Lightbulb Life acts like a magnet, pulling in influences from across the world, while maintaining its hometown flair. 'Sunday Story', composed by vocalist Coco Zhao blends samples of Balinese gamelan with Chinese percussion and Nielson's saxophone lilts while Zhao's crooning muses on the pace of Shanghai life. 'Moonlight Beauties' features Yunnanese vocalist Jing Song's soulful voice taking to a traditional Mongolian folk song as Nielsen and his band provide accompaniment. The song 'Lightbulb Lives' utilises the winding Brazilian maracatu nacao rhythm to create a soundscape as complex and convoluted as the lives of the residents of China's city on the sea. What results is a spectacle of sound that is as intriguing as it is entertaining.

-Tom Mangione, Shanghai Talk, May 12

My Jazz Story

I love jazz for too many reasons to fit into this short description I was first exposed to jazz in 1994 when I saw Don Pullen The first jazz record I bought was Sonny Rollins live at the village vanguard My advice to new listeners is don't think you have to know anything, just appreciate it, that is enough.