Sonny Phillips (born December 7, 1936) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

keyboardist. His primary instrument is

electronic organ An electric organ, also known as electronic organ, is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally designed to imitate their sound, or orchestral sounds, it has since developed ...

but he often plays piano.

Biography

Phillips began playing jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith in his twenties. He studied under

Ahmad Jamal Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones, July 2, 1930) is an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and educator. For six decades, he has been one of the most successful small-group leaders in jazz. Biography Early life Jamal was born Fr ...

, and played in the 1960s and 1970s with

Lou Donaldson Lou Donaldson (born November 1, 1926) is an American retired jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop ...

, Nicky Hill,

Eddie Harris Eddie Harris (October 20, 1934 – November 5, 1996) was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ. His best-k ...

Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He received the ...

, and

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

. His debut album was released in 1969, and he released several further records as a leader before suffering a long illness in 1980. He went into semi-retirement after this and moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

; since then he has performed and taught occasionally.

Discography

As leader

*'' Sure 'Nuff'' (

Prestige Prestige refers to a good reputation or high esteem; in earlier usage, ''prestige'' meant "showiness". (19th c.) Prestige may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Films * ''Prestige'' (film), a 1932 American film directed by Tay Garnet ...

, 1969; reissued on BGP/

Ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

in 1993) -with

Boogaloo Joe Jones Ivan Joseph Jones (born November 1, 1940), known professionally as Joe Jones or Boogaloo Joe Jones, is an American jazz guitarist. Discography As leader * ''Introducing the Psychedelic Soul Jazz Guitar of Joe Jones'' KA ''The Mindbender''(P ...

*'' Black Magic!'' (Prestige, 1970; reissued on BGP/Ace in 1993) *''

Black on Black! ''Black on Black!'' is the third album by jazz organist Sonny Phillips, which was recorded in 1970 and released on the Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1970) -with Rusty Bryant,

Melvin Sparks Melvin Sparks (March 22, 1946 – March 15, 2011) was an American soul jazz, hard bop and jazz blues guitarist. He recorded a number of albums for Prestige Records, later recording for Savant Records. He appeared on several recordings with musici ...

*''My Black Flower'' (

Muse In ancient Greek religion and mythology, the Muses ( grc, Μοῦσαι, Moûsai, el, Μούσες, Múses) are the inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the ...

, 1976; reissued on 32 Jazz in 1999) *''I Concentrate On You'' (Muse, 1977) *''Legends Of Acid Jazz: Sonny Phillips'' (Prestige, 1997) (compilation of ''Sure 'Nuff'' + ''Black On Black!'')

As sideman

With

*'' The Boss Is Back!'' (Prestige, 1969) *''

Brother Jug! ''Brother Jug!'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Got My Own ''Got My Own'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1972 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1972) *''

Big Bad Jug ''Big Bad Jug'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1972 and released on the Prestige Records, Prestige label.

'' (Prestige, 1972) With Rusty Bryant *'' Rusty Bryant Returns'' (Prestige, 1969) With Billy Butler *''

Guitar Soul! ''Guitar Soul!'' is the second album by guitarist Billy Butler which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow'' (Prestige, 1970) With

*'' Mean Greens'' (Atlantic, 1966) With Willis Jackson *'' In the Alley'' (Muse, 1976) With

Etta Jones Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Her best-known recordings are "Don't Go to Strangers" and "Save Your Love for Me". She worked with Buddy Johnson, Oliver Nelson, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Gene A ...

*'' If You Could See Me Now'' (Muse, 1978) *''Don't Misunderstand: Live In New York'' (High Note, 1980) With

*''

Boogaloo Joe ''Boogaloo Joe'' is the third album by guitarist Joe Jones which was recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Payne, Boogaloo Joe Jones discography accessed April 22, 2013 Reception Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars stating "It offe ...

'' (Prestige, 1969) *'' No Way!'' (Prestige, 1970) *'' Black Whip'' (Prestige, 1973) With

*'' Goodness!'' (Prestige, 1969) *'' Truth!'' (Prestige, 1970) *'' Person to Person!'' (Prestige, 1970) *''

The Real Thing The Real Thing or Real Thing may refer to: Film and television * The Real Thing (film), ''The Real Thing'' (film) or ''Livers Ain't Cheap'', a 1996 American film * ''The Real Thing'', a 1980 television documentary by James Burke (science historian) ...

'' (Eastbound, 1973) *'' Stolen Sweets'' (Muse, 1976) *''

Wild Flower A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows in the wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. The term implies that the plant probably is neither a hybrid nor a selected cultivar that is in any way different from the w ...

'' (Muse, 1977) *''

The Nearness of You "The Nearness of You" is a popular song written in 1938 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Ned Washington. The song debuted in the 1938 movie Romance in the Dark. It is also heard in the 1940 recording In the Mood by Glenn Miller and His Orche ...

'' (Muse, 1977) *'' Suspicions'' (Muse, 1980) With

Bernard Purdie Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul and funk musician. He is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the "Purdie ...

*''Coolin' 'N Groovin' (A Night At "On-Air")'' (Lexington/West 47th, 1993)

References

Sonny Phillips Sonny Phillips (born December 7, 1936) is an American jazz keyboardist. His primary instrument is electronic organ but he often plays piano. Biography Phillips began playing jazz organ after hearing Jimmy Smith in his twenties. He studied under ...

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Sonny 1936 births Living people American jazz organists American male organists Muse Records artists Prestige Records artists Jazz musicians from Alabama 21st-century organists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians 21st-century American keyboardists 20th-century American keyboardists 20th-century American male musicians