Home » Jazz Musicians » Dan Phillips

Dan Phillips

 

Dan Phillips is an American guitarist, composer and band leader who has worked professionally in New York, Chicago, Bangkok and Tokyo as well as touring globally. Dan is the leader of the critically acclaimed Chicago Edge Ensemble, Quartet Next, Dan Phillips Trio, Dan Phillips Quartet. Dan has performed with jazz musicians such as Hamid Drake, Gerald Wilson, Danilo Pérez, Avreeayl Ra, Michael Zerang, Dave Rempis, Jeb Bishop, Mars Williams, Jim Baker, Ben Street, and Ed Thigpen and many more.

Awards

Awards:

 

 

•      Chicago Edge Ensembles’ “Decaying Orbit” and “Insidious Anthem”

New York City Jazz Records Honorable Mention for album of the year 2017, 2018

•      Dan Phillips Quartet “Converging Tributaries” Avant Music News Best of 2017

Avant Music News Honorable mention 2108

Dan Phillips Hamid Drake “Trail of Inevitability”

Dan Phillips Trio “Divergent Flow”

Chicago Edge Ensemble “Insidious Anthem”

•      Chicago Edge Ensembles’ “Decaying Orbit” and Dan Phillips Quartet “Converging Tributaries” Tom Hulls’ Best of 2017 and 2018


Tags

2
Album Review

Chicago Edge Ensemble: The Individualists

Read "The Individualists" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Let's trot out the old New York versus Chicago rivalry. Just like with their sports teams (Jets vs. Bears, Knicks vs. Bulls, etc.) music fans feel a need to chose sides. It has been like that since Louis Armstrong left the Windy City for the Big Apple in 1924 and Sun Ra in 1961. Sure NYC is the center of the world for individual jazz musicians, but Chicago has always been a more communal place for music making. Consider the ...

4
Multiple Reviews

Dan Phillips He's Back And He's Proud

Read "Dan Phillips He's Back And He's Proud" reviewed by Mark Corroto


In just a few short years listeners have changed their thinking about Dan Phillips from “who is dis guy?" to “fantastic news, another Dan Phillips release." Maybe we can attribute this response to the wandering nature of the guitarist. He has lived in Chicago, New York, Bangkok, and Tokyo. Now, back in Chicago his music has jelled, crystallizing in several high profile ensembles including the Chicago Edge Ensemble with Hamid Drake, Jeb Bishop, Krzysztof Pabian, and Mars Williams and with ...

1
Album Review

Dan Phillips Quartet: Converging Tributaries

Read "Converging Tributaries" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Sorry New York, but Chicago jazz hits harder. And maybe it always has, with players like Gene Ammons, Von Freeman, Fred Anderson and today's stars, Dave Rempis, Frank Rosaly, Hamid Drake, and Fred Lonberg-Holm, to name just a few musicians. Maybe it is the winters, or is it the searing heat of summer that mutates the DNA? Whatever the cause, once altered, the musical whomp is fixed. Even when the musicians have left the Windy City, its influence remains. A ...

5
Multiple Reviews

Dan Phillips Returns To Chicago

Read "Dan Phillips Returns To Chicago" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Somewhat of a mystery man, guitarist Dan Phillips recorded two CDs in Chicago in 2015 and 2016. One a trio session, and the other a septet with a cast of heavyweights from the Windy City. Phillips, a Berklee and Northwestern graduate, has been living and teaching in Bangkok, Thailand since the turn of the new millennium. Born in Illinois, he spent five years in New York, and returned to Chicago for another five before decamping to Bangkok. It's just as ...

10
Album Review

Dan Phillips BKK Quartet: Bangkok Edge Live

Read "Bangkok Edge Live" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Guitarist Dan Phillips has long been a leading figure in nurturing jazz in his adopted home of jny:Bangkok. Whether teaching in the city's universities or through his club gigs, Phillips has mentored and inspired many of Thailand's upcoming jazz musicians. With the excellent pairing of drummer Chanutr Techatana-nan (aka Hong) and bassist Pornchart Viriyapark, the trio's impressive debut Bangkok Edge (Self produced, 2012) featured Danish saxophonist Jakob Dinesen on half the tracks. That collaboration is reprised here in a vibrant ...

3
Album Review

Dan Phillips BKK Trio: Bangkok Edge

Read "Bangkok Edge" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Thailand isn't exactly known the world over as a jazz mecca, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have its fair share of talent in this department; one need look no further than the back cover of guitarist Dan Phillips' Bangok Edge to discover the names of some of the movers and shakers on the Thai jazz scene. Phillips, who hails from America but lives in Thailand and serves on the music faculty at Silpakorn University, put together ...

3
Album Review

Dan Phillips BKK Trio: Bangkok Edge

Read "Bangkok Edge" reviewed by Ian Patterson


It's been two years since guitarist Dan Phillips released Jazz Guitar--Basics and Beyond, (Self Produced, 2010), his impressively practical and digestible instructional DVD. Jazz guitar Professor at Bangkok's Silpakorn University, Phillips stressed the necessity of composing as the surest route to finding one's own voice, and leading by example--as any University Professor worth his salt should--Phillips illustrated his points on eight originals, several of which were previously unreleased. It seemed like a CD of new material was on the horizon, ...

Read more articles
81

Recording

Dan Phillips Trio Releases "Destination Unknown"

Dan Phillips Trio Releases "Destination Unknown"

Source: All About Jazz

After several years in Asia guitarist Dan Phillips reunites with his Chicago Trio for their third release Destination Unknown. This release once again features Phillips's unique writing and playing style with artful contributions from two long time compatriots Tim Mulvenna and Krzysztof Pabian. From harmonically rich compositions to deep grooves and wide open blowing this release is tuneful, adventurous and indeed their best yet!

About Dan Phillips

Dan Phillips has worked as guitarist, bandleader and jazz educator in New York, ...

“Another triumphant Interaction!

The music has that unique Chicago cooperative feel throughout. Phillips composed and arranged all the music except for "Mutualism In Action," the one wholly improvised track. Even that piece, with its scattered notes and tones, has an internal logic. Elsewhere, the sound organizes itself after a bit of mayhem "Reverse Hierarchical Diffusion Obligation" or trades in some intentional but orchestrated anarchy "Blue Bakunin" before Phillip's guitar is guided by some slick horn charts. The ensemble makes the complex twists sound simple and the journey here is quite groove accessible.”

Read more

Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

Chicago

Credentials/Background

Dan has been a guitar instructor and music educator for 20 years. He has had private guitar studios in New York City, Chicago and Bangkok. He has taught at the university level at Mahidol College of Music (head of jazz dept), Rangsit University (lecturer in Jazz Guitar), Minnesota State University Moorhead (Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies) and now at Silpakorn University College of Music (lecturer in Jazz Guitar and Jazz Studies). For Private instruction he has taught students of various interests and levels and has developed a solid approach that fits the needs of the individual. Dan is available locally in Bangkok for private lessons or internationally via Skype. He is also available for workshops locally and abroad. Fell free to contact Dan for more info.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Read more

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Points of Light in...

Lizard Breath Records
2024

buy

The Individualists

Lizard Breath Records
2023

buy

Dan Phillips Quartet...

Lizard Breath Records
2023

buy

Dan Phillips &...

Lizard Breath Records
2022

buy

Dan Phillips Hamid...

Lizard Breath Records
2021

buy

Dan Phillips "Shapes...

Lizard Breath Records
2020

buy

Terminal 1

From: Destination Unknown
By Dan Phillips

Videos

Similar

Earl King
guitar, electric

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.