Billy Phipps
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Billy Phipps (b.December 25, 1931) is an American jazz baritone saxophonist and composer who has contributed to the development of a wide range of jazz styles including hard bop, soul jazz, latin jazz, and primitive.
Career
Phipps was born on December 25th, 1931 in Newark, NJ, into a jazz family.[1] Phipp's uncle, Eugene Phipps, Sr. traveled with Billie Holiday, Joe Guy, Max Roach and Ike Quebec on a national tour. Cousin Ernie Phipps led the big band The Marlarks of Rhythm with Eugene Phipps, Jr. at the Savoy Ball Room along with The Sultans of Swing, Poncho Diggs, and other big bands. During the 1950's Eugene Phipps co-led the house band at Newark's legendary Washington Bar, which also featured Babbs Gonzolas, Lew-Rew Jordan, and Ike Quebec. [2]
In the 1950's Billy Phipps along with brother Nat Phipps formed a band whose members included Wayne Shorter, Grachon Moncur, Chris White, Charlie Mason, Harold Phipps and Robert Thomas. Phipps began his jazz career playing bebop on flute and baritone saxophone. Although just a teenager, Phipps was a regular in Newark and New York bands, once opening for Billie Holiday.[3] In 1960 the big band broke up to form the Mega Tones. Billy Phipps left the Mega Tones to tour with Buddy Johnson's Band, Dizzy Gillespie and his Big Band, The Ray Charles Band, and "Brother" Jack McDuff. Encouraged by Wayne Shorter who introduced Phipps to John Coltrane, Phipps began shifting to hard bop in his style. Despite a significant jazz career, the lack of Phipp's notoriety (as well as that of other black jazz performers) has been attributed to the reportage of white jazz critics.[4]
Recording and Performance
Phipps has recorded baritone sax on several seminal jazz albums, including the Gil Melle Quartet (1956), Gin and Orange (1969) with Brother Jack McDuff, and Ocho (1972) with Chico Mendoza. [5]Phipps has performed internationally, touring Sweden, France, England, and the Netherlands with McDuff's band. Phipps continues to perform live in the New York city area and to record with other notable jazz musicians. Phipps was a featured performer in 2003 during the Jazz Foundation of America's Annual "Great Night In Harlem" Concert at the Apollo Theater, hosted by Bill Cosby, Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg and Branford Marsalis.[6] In an homage to his Newark origins, Phipps performs with the Newark Jazz Elders, whose members provide a generational bridge between fifties bebop and contemporary jazz.[7]
Partial Discography
Gil Melle Quartet (LP), Prestige Records, 1956
Gin and Orange (Album, CD), Universal Music, 1969
Ocho (LP, Album), West Side Latino Records, 1972
Joy of Cookin' (LP), Groove Merchant, 1972
Tornado (LP), El Sonido, 1976
Mamey Colora'o / Sneakin' Up Behind You (LP), El Sonido, 1976
Sabroso!: The Afro-Latin Groove (LP), Rhino Records, 1998
Ocho (The First Album) (CD, Album, RE), Universal Sound 2000
References
- ^ Swing City: Newark Nightlife, 1925-50 (2002) pp. 212-213. Barbara J. Kukla, Rutgers University Press, New Jersey.
- ^ New Jersey Star Ledger, 2003-09-28 Jazztown USA - for generations, Newark was a musical mecca http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/greatday/stories/jazztown.html
- ^ New Jersey Star Ledger, 2007-04-15. Holiday in Newark: An anniversary remembrance of the jazz legend. http://newarktalk.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8242&sid=e3f8549884bcb5693a0e71da2d901bbe
- ^ The Blacklisted Journalist - Jazz and the White Critic 30 Years Later. http://www.blacklistedjournalist.com/column92f.html
- ^ Essential Jazz Records, Vol. 2: Modernism to Postmodernism (2000) p. 628 Max Harrison, Eric Thacker, Stuart Nicholson. Mansell Publishing. Los Altos, CA. ISBN-13: 978-0720118223
- ^ villagevoice.com. 2009-10-11. URL: http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-09-30/news/another-great-night-in-harlem/1. (Archived by villagevoice.com at http://www.villagevoice.com/2003-09-30/news/another-great-night-in-harlem/1)
- ^ New Jersey Star-Ledger 2007-11-15 Elder saxman feels blessed to keep playing http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2007/11/jazz.html