Sonny Phillips
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Sonny Phillips (born December 7, 1936) is an American
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
keyboardist. His primary instrument is
electronic organ An electric organ, also known as electronic organ, is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the pump organ, harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally designed to imitate their sound, or orchestral sounds, it has si ...
but he often plays piano.


Biography

Phillips began playing jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith in his twenties. He studied under
Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones; July 2, 1930 – April 16, 2023) was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator. For six decades, he was one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. He was a NEA Jazz Ma ...
, and played in the 1960s and 1970s with
Lou Donaldson Louis Andrew Donaldson Jr. (November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was he ...
, Nicky Hill,
Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...
,
Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing music, swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He re ...
, and
Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and R ...
. His debut album was released in 1969, and he released several further records as a leader before suffering a long illness in 1980. He went into semi-retirement after this and moved to
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
; since then he has performed and taught occasionally.


Discography


As leader

*''
Sure 'Nuff ''Sure 'Nuff'' is the debut album by jazz organist Sonny Phillips which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Prestige Prestige may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films *Prestige (film), ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnett: woman travels to French Indochina to meet up with husband *The Prestige (film), ''The Prestige'' (fi ...
, 1969; reissued on BGP/
Ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...
in 1993) -with
Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing music, swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He re ...
,
Boogaloo Joe Jones Ivan Joseph Jones (born November 1, 1940), known professionally as Joe Jones or Boogaloo Joe Jones, is an American jazz guitarist. Discography His song, Brown Bag, currently has 1 544 936 streams on Spotify as of 11 April 2024. As leader * '' ...
*'' Black Magic!'' (Prestige, 1970; reissued on BGP/Ace in 1993) *''
Black on Black! ''Black on Black!'' is the third album by jazz organist Sonny Phillips, which was recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.
'' (Prestige, 1970) -with
Rusty Bryant Royal Gordon "Rusty" Bryant (November 25, 1929 – March 25, 1991) was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist. Biography Bryant was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, becoming a fixture of the local jazz scene ...
,
Melvin Sparks Melvin Sparks (March 22, 1946 – March 15, 2011) was an American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with mu ...
*''My Black Flower'' (
Muse In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...
, 1976; reissued on 32 Jazz in 1999) *''I Concentrate On You'' (Muse, 1977) *''Legends Of Acid Jazz: Sonny Phillips'' (Prestige, 1997) (compilation of ''Sure 'Nuff'' + ''Black On Black!'')


As sideman

With
Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and R ...
*''
The Boss Is Back! ''The Boss Is Back!'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Brother Jug! ''Brother Jug!'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.
'' (Prestige, 1969) *''
Got My Own ''Got My Own'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1972 and released on the Prestige label.Big Bad Jug'' (Prestige, 1972) With
Rusty Bryant Royal Gordon "Rusty" Bryant (November 25, 1929 – March 25, 1991) was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist. Biography Bryant was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, becoming a fixture of the local jazz scene ...
*''
Rusty Bryant Returns ''Rusty Bryant Returns'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Rusty Bryant recorded for the Prestige label in 1969.Billy Butler *'' Guitar Soul!'' (Prestige, 1969) *'' Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow'' (Prestige, 1970) With
Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...
*''
Mean Greens ''Mean Greens'' is an album by American jazz saxophonist Eddie Harris recorded in 1966 and released on the Atlantic label.
'' (Atlantic, 1966) With Willis Jackson *'' In the Alley'' (Muse, 1976) With
Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Gene Ammo ...
*'' If You Could See Me Now'' (Muse, 1978) *''Don't Misunderstand: Live In New York'' (High Note, 1980) With
Boogaloo Joe Jones Ivan Joseph Jones (born November 1, 1940), known professionally as Joe Jones or Boogaloo Joe Jones, is an American jazz guitarist. Discography His song, Brown Bag, currently has 1 544 936 streams on Spotify as of 11 April 2024. As leader * '' ...
*''
Boogaloo Joe ''Boogaloo Joe'' is the third album by guitarist Joe Jones which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Payne, Boogaloo Joe Jones discography accessed April 22, 2013 Reception Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars stating "It off ...
'' (Prestige, 1969) *''
No Way! ''No Way!'' is the fifth album by guitarist Boogaloo Joe Jones which was recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.Payne, Boogaloo Joe Jones discography accessed April 22, 2013 Reception Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars calling it ...
'' (Prestige, 1970) *'' Black Whip'' (Prestige, 1973) With
Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing music, swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He re ...
*''
Goodness! ''Goodness!'' is the sixth album led by saxophonist Houston Person, which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Truth! ''Truth!'' is the seventh album led by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.Person to Person! ''Person to Person!'' is the eighth album led by saxophonist Houston Person which was recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.
'' (Prestige, 1970) *'' The Real Thing'' (Eastbound, 1973) *'' Stolen Sweets'' (Muse, 1976) *''
Wild Flower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, rather than being intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is any different from the native plant, even ...
'' (Muse, 1977) *''
The Nearness of You "The Nearness of You" is a popular song written in 1937 by Hoagy Carmichael (1899–1981), with lyrics by Ned Washington (1901–1976). Intended for an unproduced Paramount Pictures film titled Romance In The Rough, the studio's publishing divi ...
'' (Muse, 1977) *'' Suspicions'' (Muse, 1980) With
Bernard Purdie Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul, funk and jazz musician. He is known for his precise time-keeping and his signature use of Tuplet, triplets against a half-time backbeat: the P ...
*''Coolin' 'N Groovin' (A Night At "On-Air")'' (Lexington/West 47th, 1993)


References

*
Sonny Phillips Sonny Phillips (born December 7, 1936) is an American jazz keyboardist. His primary instrument is electronic organ but he often plays piano. Biography Phillips began playing jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith (musician), Jimmy Smith in his twen ...
at
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Sonny 1936 births Living people American jazz organists American male organists Muse Records artists Prestige Records artists Jazz musicians from Alabama 21st-century American organists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians 21st-century American keyboardists 20th-century American keyboardists 20th-century American male musicians