Phil Ravita

One of the Mid-Atlantic’s most versatile and sought after bassists, Phil Ravita leads Ravita Jazz and appears with many other jazz and classical ensembles and orchestras. He is also a college professor and host of a weekly radio program on WMTB 89.9 FM. Tune in Mondays at 7 PM EST.

He has shared the stage with such jazz greats as Jimmy Heath, Bobby Shew, Claudio Roditi and Ruby Glover, appearing in countless clubs, concert halls and festivals. He can be heard on numerous recordings and recently won critical acclaim for his work with Grasso-Ravita Jazz Ensemble and the group’s highly praised 2021 recording, Jagged Spaces. 

On faculty of Mount Saint Mary’s University, Prince Georges Community College, Harford Community College and the College of Southern Maryland, Ravita is a popular clinician.

He holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from University of Maryland, College Park (2011) and earned a doctorate in music education from Boston University in 2020. 

Awards

BillBoard magazine Charting artist Endorsed Artist with Eden Bass Amplifiers Endorsed Artist with REMIC Microphones

Gear

Phil Ravita uses Aguilar Bass Amplifiers and REMIC Microphones.

Take Five with Bassist Phil Ravita

by AAJ Staff
July 24, 2025

Meet Bassist Phil Ravita One of the Mid-Atlantic's most versatile and sought-after bassists, Phil Ravita leads Ravita Jazz and appears with many other jazz and classical ensembles and orchestras. He is also host of a weekly radio program on WMTB 89.9 FM. Tune in on Mondays at 8 PM EST. He has shared the stage with music legends Joe Coleman, Jimmy Heath, Bobby Shew, Claudio Roditi and Ruby Glover, appearing in countless clubs, concert halls, and festivals. He can be heard ...

Liner Notes

Ravita Jazz: Alice Blue

by Raul d'Gama Rose
June 9, 2025

In the 1939-40 academic year at Harvard University, Igor Stravinsky delivered a series of six lectures in French entitled Poétique musicale sous forme de six leçons. Stravinsky analysed the role of the critic, the requirements of the interpreter and the state of Russian music. He believed that a composer's freedom to create rose from a platform of structures which incorporated the rules of music--a process that ultimately frees the spirit. Stravinsky understood his own vocation as that of ...

Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Ravita, Perelman And More

by Bob Osborne
June 15, 2023

On this show all new music from Phil Ravita Jazz plus two new releases from Ivo Perelman, one with James Emery and the other with Aruan Ortiz & Lester St. Louis. In addition there are new albums from Paula Sanchez & Mariana Carvalho, Hernan Hecht & Rick Parker, Stefano Falcone, Clifford Jordan, Noshir Mody, the Kevin O'Connell Quartet featuring Adam Brenner, Illegal Crowns (Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Taylor Ho Bynum & Benoit Delbecq), Transatlantic Five (Nate Wooley, Ken Vandermark, Christopher ...

Liner Notes

Ravita Jazz: Oriana

by Bill Milkowski
June 12, 2023

On his second outing as a leader, bassist-composer Phil Ravita recruited a close-knit crew of musicians that he's worked with in the Mid-Atlantic region since their time together in grad school at the University of Maryland, College Park. “We've known each other since 2007," he said of bandmates Greg Small on piano and Nucleo Vega on drums. Since then, they've done gigs in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore and a myriad of Maryland towns and cities. The group's ...

Recording

Ravita Jazz’s Releases 'Alice Blue'

Source: Ravita Jazz
July 23, 2025

Ravita Jazz released Alice Blue in May of 2025. In the liner notes, jazz journalist and author Raul d'Gama Rosewrote: “Throughout Alice Blue the poetics of musical tradition are impressively maintained. The balance of melody, harmony and rhythm present in compositions and improvisation make this an album worth adding to your collection.” Bassist, composer, educator, and radio host Dr. Phil Ravita leads Ravita Jazz, a dynamic ensemble rooted in modern jazz traditions and creative innovation. As one of the Mid-Atlantic’s ...
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Recording

Ravita Jazz with bassist Phil Ravita Release 'Oriana'

Source: Jazz Beyond Borders
April 24, 2023

Ravita Jazz releases Oriana in April 2023. Writing in the liner notes, jazz journalist and author Bill Milkowski says: “Together with his like-minded colleagues, bassist-composer-bandleader Ravita takes listeners on a kinetic, contemplative and ultimately expansive ride on Oriana.” Ten tracks feature originals by Ravita and other band members with creative takes on “Black Coffee” and “Caravan.” This is Phil Ravita’s first album as sole leader. The acoustic/electric bassist is one of the Mid-Atlantic’s busiest players. Having worked with such jazz ...
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