There is a unique circle of appreciation that bounces off the walls of a full house when Mike Phillips blows on his saxophone. He makes sure of that, having developed the technical skills and self-discipline required in mastering the art form. Still, that is only part of the package, as audiences who know his work (or discover it for the first time) will experience at Blues Alley on Sunday night.
“Music is more than riffs and tricks that you learn,” he said. “For me, it’s emotional and I want people to feel my music rather than just listen to it.”
| Onstage |
| Mike Phillips |
| Where: Blues Alley Jazz Supper Club, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW |
| When: 8 and 10 p.m. Sunday |
| Info: $25; 202-337-4141; bluesalley.com |
And it has been that way since the moment he stepped onstage at Wilson’s — a famous New York City’s jazz and R&B haunt. That was 18 years ago, and his history of playing alongside the talent that gathered there includes gigs with artists Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men and Prince. Out on the road, he has toured here in the States and abroad with such jazz greats as Wayman Tisdale, Kenny Lattimore and Stevie Wonder.
It was actually touring that solidified Phillips’ style.
“Between Stevie and Prince, I think I’ve been with two of the best band leaders, writers, composers, musicians and showmen,” he said. “You don’t just play with them; you always learn something from them!”
Phillips will be performing with his assembled group of artists that includes native D.C. guitarist Stanley Cooper, bassist Kevin Walker, and keyboardists Eric Parker and Glen Stewart. They will play works by Wayne Shorter as well as original compositions from Phillips’ albums, “Uncommon Denominator” and “MP3,” released on the Hidden Beach label.
“My original material is a fusion of the Song Book with bebop and hip-hop,” he said, expressing his desire that kids today need be nudged toward an appreciation of jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald while “culturally connecting the dots” between those great American jazz artists and today’s musical beats.
