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Music


Mike Phillips - A Jazz Man for All Generations
By Steven Fullwood

Mike Phillips makes music for the masses. The Mount Vernon native's debut "You Have Reached Mike Phillips" augurs well for the success of a saxophonist who has played with a number of respected artists in the music industry. If you've ever seen Prince or Stevie Wonder live and wondered who that mad talented saxophonist was, chances are that it was Mike Phillips.

Mike Phillips Courtesy Hidden Beach Recordings
Mike Phillips

"My style is a reflection of everything I am," he says during a recent interview. "I am a sponge, and I've learned from everyone I've played with. I'd get engulfed in their artistry and their drive to perfection," he says. "[Prince and Stevie Wonder] didn't ask me to regurgitate but instead required me to bring my flavor to the mix." Ever the apt pupil, Phillips cherishes those experiences. "I was fascinated and now I am in the same position of doing exactly what they've done."

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Phillips's edification came at the feet of many, which is reflected in the eclectic styling of his debut album and in his commentary. The saxophonist describes his style as a mélange of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, salsa and hip-hop. "It [is] my authentic experience," he says. New York afforded the musician exposure to a variety of artists, including contemporary Hip-Hop and R&B/soul artists and producers such as Heavy D., Mary J. Blige and Jeff Redd, as well as jazz legends John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon and Dizzy Gillespie.

 

Phillips cites the last three with regard to their unprecedented standards. "Just look at what [Coltrane, Gordon and Gillespie] did. They are masters of reinvention. From Ragtime to Swing to Be-bop these men understood the legacy and did their own thing," he says. Taking his cue from both the past and present, Phillips seeks to carve out his own niche. He speaks of his music as a journey of making what he hears through the instrument resonate for the listener.

Lauded for his passionate live shows, Phillips's work has been seen as a bridge between generations. Once after a show a man told him that both he and his son listen to "You Have Reached Mike Phillips."

"The man only listened to jazz and his son only listened to Hip-hop, but together they sat down and were able to listen to one of my songs," beamed Phillips. "As a musician my goal is to translate my experience on different levels, for the young and old."

"My core audience tends to be younger people who are open to listen to jazz," he says. Phillips's label, Hidden Beach Recordings, which boasts an impressive roster of talent including Jill Scott and Brenda Russell, released "Unwrapped Vol.1," a collection of Hip-Hop tracks performed by Patrice Rushen, Paul Jackson, Jr., and of course, Mike Phillips, among others. "Playing on rap records has given me exposure, as well as being on 'Unwrapped,'" he says.

Phillips sees his future as bright. "I plan to stay fresh and new. And if I can keep the same attitude throughout my career, then I raise the bar." M

August 2002

 

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