Flip Phillips

Flip Phillips provoked early criticism from some observers through the thunderous ovations his fiery improvisations drew at Jazz at the Philharmonic shows, yet he remained a first-rate tenor saxophonist for more than five decades, equally assured on up-tempo stomps, introspective ballads, and familiar standards. Between 1934 and 1939 he performed clarinet nightly in a Brooklyn establishment, then joined Frankie Newton’s ensemble from 1940 to 1941 and later worked with the orchestras of Benny Goodman, Wingy Manone, and Red Norvo. His decisive breakthrough arrived in 1944 when he joined Woody Herman’s Herd as a featured soloist, remaining through 1946 and quickly becoming a major attraction. Although Ben Webster supplied the strongest early model for his warm sound, Phillips already projected a personal voice at that point. From 1946 through 1957 he appeared regularly on Jazz at the Philharmonic tours, creating a notable stir with his robust, honking treatment of “Perdido” while matching the caliber of such contemporaries as Charlie Parker and Lester Young. At intervals he co-directed a small group alongside Bill Harris; the personnel of that unit later formed the core of the band Benny Goodman assembled in 1959. Phillips subsequently withdrew to Florida for fifteen years, performing only sporadically, adding bass clarinet as a second instrument, and entering the studio at infrequent intervals. By 1975 he had returned to full-time activity, issuing numerous recordings and appearing at festivals and jazz parties. Even after celebrating his eightieth birthday he retained the same drive and instrumental command he had displayed half a century earlier.