In addition to this family atmosphere, studies with Larry Blake and former Kenton and Herman trumpet player John Coppola deepened Phil's appreciation of music and honed his skills to the level that he turned professional at the age of sixteen playing in big bands and doing commercial gigs and recordings. Phil also received early jazz lessons in the bands of Mark Levine and Harvey Wainapel.
In 1988 Phil moved from San Francisco to New York City. He sought to expand his musical horizons and soak up what he could from some of the greatest musicians in the world. Playing gigs, recording, and jamming, Phil stayed very active working with master jazz musicians to the then up-and-coming masters and those in between, including Bob Belden, Chris Potter, Freddie Hubbard, Richie Beirach, Terumasa Hino, Mulgrew Miller, Billy Hart, Etc.
Phil is a lover of the trumpet tradition and has a multitude of influences as manifested in his choice of playing a 1946 Martin Committee trumpet with a Bach 1 1/2 C mouthpiece. Early inspirations were Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, and Donald Byrd. A little later came Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, and Tom Harrell. Also appreciative of obscure trumpeters, Phil cites Tony Fruscella, Dizzy Reece, Dupree Bolton, Charles Tolliver, Tommy Turrentine, Waymon Reed, and Louis Smith as lesser known faves. Former San Francisco residents Eddie Henderson and Johnny Coles also had a large impact, giving Phil advice, early playing experience, and encouragement.
Phil has appeared on some 40+ CD recordings as a sideman and has released two CD's as a leader, Sweet Transients and Playful Intentions on Fresh Sound New Talent.
New Music Video!
Playing "Stella by Starlight" with the Suzanne Davis Quartet at Night and Day Lounge, Brooklyn, NY, November 4, 2006.