How it all started
A native to Los Angeles, Phillip was raised by jazz lovers, his mother enjoying an early career as a jazz vocalist and his father a dedicated fan of both Jerry Mulligan and Cal Tjader. Phillip describes discovering his vocal ability as a kid, creating his own harmonies to the songs of Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Chicago and Sergio Mendes with Brazil 66. But it’s the vocal jazz artists — Mark Murphy, Chet Baker, June Christy and most importantly, Carmen McRae — that earlier on, taught him about the delivery of a jazz standard. “Those singers introduced me to the Great American Songbook. They made me fall in love with those melodies and they made me want to be a jazz singer,” he confesses. Cut to 2014 when Phillip meets jazz singer and teacher, Julie Kelly. His work with Julie and her jazz workshop brought him face to face with some of the most seasoned jazz instrumentalists on the West Coast and kickstarted his current status as a new, vibrant artist on the LA jazz scene.
“Phillip is money in the bank. He’s the kind of song stylist that delivers not only vocal chops but also a wisdom.”
Philosophy
It’s all about the connection and the creation for Phillip, playing live. He revels in the ability to create an infectious musical energy with his band and then in turn feel his audience connect and react. He hopes to push his shows into a higher gear and explore more jazz and modern jazz-related grooves. He cites Daniel Caesar, HONNE, Mac Ayers and PREP as artists who are making musical impressions on him now, pushing his jazzed-based explorations in new directions.
LIVE DATES
INSTAGRAM: @philophillip
