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DATE OF BIRTH: Dec. 29, 1941 DATE OF DEATH: March 20, 2012 PLACE OF BIRTH: Newark, NJ INSTRUMENT: drums
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Steve Phillips was born, raised and educated in Newark. But his musical travels have taken him around the world. A self-taught musician, he left the United States in January 1979 for a gig in Paris with organist Rhoda Scott and stayed with her overseas for 18 years. They performed together on some U.S. State Department tours of Africa, where he also played with Cameroonian and Afrobeat pioneer Manu Dibango. While in Europe, Phillips appeared with any number of touring jazz musicians including Art Farmer, John Lewis, Benny Golson, Vanessa Rubin and Little Jimmy Scott. From Paris, Phillips moved to Beirut for seven years and played throughout Lebanon in a trio called "Three-Wheel Drive." While in the Middle East, he was in the orchestra of Fairuz, one of the best known of all Arabic singers. Phillips has also played in the bands of Charles Earland, Jimmy McGriff, Leo Johnson, Nat Phipps and Irene Reid. He lives in Newark. NEWARK CLUBS: Key Club, Cadillac Club, Sparky J's, Playbill Lounge, Pitt's Place, Front Room |
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