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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.
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 Courtesy
Hidden Beach Recordings
Mike Phillips
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"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.
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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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