Reuben Phillips (died February 13, 1974 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) was an American jazz saxophonist, arranger and bandleader, born in

Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in Christianity * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...

Kentucky Kentucky ( , ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States and one of the states of the Upper South. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north; West Virginia and Virginia to ...

. After five years as an alto saxophonist with Andy Kirk and his Clouds of Joy, he played with Willis Jackson (1950) then

Josephine Baker Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald; naturalised French Joséphine Baker; 3 June 1906 – 12 April 1975) was an American-born French dancer, singer and actress. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted Fran ...

and

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(1951). From 1952, Phillips has been a freelance arranger, musician and band leader in the New York area. He made arrangements for

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, Billy Ward,

Earl Bostic Eugene Earl Bostic (April 25, 1913 – October 28, 1965) was an American alto saxophonist. Bostic's recording career was diverse, his musical output encompassing jazz, swing, jump blues and the post-war American rhythm and blues style, which h ...

, Arnett Cobb among others. He also played and recorded with Gene Redd,

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, George Rhodes,

Dud Bascomb Wilbur Odell "Dud" Bascomb (May 16, 1916, Birmingham, Alabama – December 25, 1972, New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter, best known for his tenure with Erskine Hawkins. Yanow, Scott. Dud Bascomb biography AllMusic He was a 1979 ind ...

, and later recorded with Willis Jackson (1970) and

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(1971). He recorded two albums with his own big band, the house band at the Apollo Theatre on 125th Street in

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in the 1960s and 70s. He died in San Juan of an apparent heart attack at the age of 53.

Discography

As a leader *1960: ''Manhattan...3:00 A.M.'' (Poplar 1003) *1961: ''Big band at the Apollo'' (Ascot 16004) As a sideman * '' Andy Kirk, Live at the Apollo, 1944–47'' * ''

And his orchestra, 1951'' * '' George Rhodes, Plays Porgy and Bess, 1958'' * '' Willis Jackson, Recording session, 1970'' * ''

, Live at Club Soul Sound, 1971''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Reuben Year of birth missing 1974 deaths Big band bandleaders Swing bandleaders American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists People from Providence, Kentucky Jazz musicians from Kentucky American male jazz musicians 20th-century American saxophonists