Born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, during the rise of hip-hop, Mike Phillips grew up in a neighborhood that produced some of music’s biggest names, including Mary J. Blige, Heavy D, and Pete Rock. While his peers were shaping rap culture, Phillips was absorbing two worlds at once: jazz on the radio by day and rap shows by night. That dual upbringing never left him. He describes his sound as a mash-up between the traditional jazz masters he studied, Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, and the hard-edged, rhythmic energy of ’90s hip-hop.

Phillips made his impromptu New York debut at Wilson’s Nightclub in 1993, and it opened the door to a string of session and sideman work across jazz, R&B, and even rap. His reputation grew quickly, and Hidden Beach Recordings put him on the road opening for Jill Scott in 2001, a career-launching moment that set the stage for everything to come. From there, his trajectory became extraordinary. He is the only musician in the world to have recorded and toured with all three of the legends of American soul: Michael Jackson, Prince, and Stevie
Wonder.

Phillips spent nearly a decade in Prince’s orbit, performing alongside him from 2004 through 2012, and later toured for almost two years as part of the band for Michael Jackson: The IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil. Prince himself once reflected on watching Phillips perform, noting that there was one man breathing into an instrument and making an entire room feel alive. That kind of praise from a legend says everything you need to know about what to expect on stage.

All five of Phillips’ solo albums have debuted in the Top 5 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart, and his appeal stretches well beyond the jazz world. He has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival, played inaugural balls for Presidents Clinton and Obama, and earned standing ovations on stages around the globe.

Join Mike Phillips at Middle C on March 20th to hear your favorite hits plus possibly a preview of a new tune or two.

Article written by Middle C Jazz Marketing Support, Kaela Mason.