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Flip Phillips

Joseph Edward Fillippelli, known professionally as Flip Phillips, was an American jazz tenor saxophone and clarinet player. He is best remembered for his work with Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts from 1946 to 1957. Phillips recorded an album for Verve when he was in his 80s. He performed in a variety of genres, including mainstream jazz, swing, and jump blues.

During the 1930s, Phillips played clarinet in a restaurant in Brooklyn. After that he was a member of bands led by Frankie Newton, Red Norvo, Benny Goodman, and Wingy Manone. He was a regular soloist for the Woody Herman band in the middle 1940s and for the next ten years performed with Jazz at the Philharmonic. He retired to Florida, but after fifteen years he returned to music, recording again and performing into his 80s.

He recorded extensively for Clef in the 1940s and 1950s, including a 1949 album of small-group tracks under his leadership with Buddy Morrow, Tommy Turk, Kai Winding, Sonny Criss, Ray Brown, and Shelly Manne. He accompanied Billie Holiday on her 1952 album Billie Holiday Sings.

Flip Phillips: Swing is the Thing

Read "Swing is the Thing" reviewed by AAJ Staff

by AAJ Staff
January 22, 2003

The swing craze may have faded, but the authentic heart of the music will never die. In the hands of 85-year-old Flip Phillips, the spirit and sound of the original swing era are as alive and true as he. Whether on his own compositions like the flying intro/outro “The Mark of Zorro" or the rythmic and subdued central title track or on Rodgers and Hart’s “Where or When" or Duke’s “In a Mellow Tone," Phillips' sax is warm and friendly, ...

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Album Review

Flip Phillips: Swing Is The Thing

Read "Swing Is The Thing" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
May 1, 2000

Generational differences often dictate jazz listening patterns. A younger jazz fan may prefer James Carter over Benny Carter, Ornette Coleman to George Coleman, and so on. Enthusiasm for today’s jazz ‘stars’ should be encouraged, and if your motivation for picking up a copy of tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips’ Verve outing is to complete your collection of Joe Lovano, James Carter, or Benny Green records, your wishes will be well served. But you’ll also be surprised and charmed by two musicians ...

Recording

Flip Phillips: Rock With Flip

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 11, 2021

Flip Phillips, like Charlie Ventura, was cut from the same hyperactive cloth. Both tenor saxophonists crossed over to bop from the tail end of the swing era and both were born ready to jump and jam. While Ventura came up influenced by Coleman Hawkins's tough 'n' gruff approach to the instrument, Phillips was more of a Lester Young man. He could sail along like a paper plane, blowing yawning lines on up-tempo cookers and steamy ballads. In late 1946, Phillips ...
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Music Industry

Flip Phillips: Hard Swinging Tenor Star of JATP

Source: All About Jazz

Flip Phillips was most closely associated with Norman Granz's famous Jazz at The Philharmonic touring productions. The hard hitting tenor saxophonist was a star of these jam session-style revues for almost a dozen years, matching his fierce, honking tenor in cutting sessions with other demonstrative saxophonists of the day, including Illinois Jacquet, Charlie Ventura and Ike Quebec. Although the critics sometimes disdained the showy, crowd-pleasing approach which Granz fostered in these shows, they remained immensely popular ...
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Music Industry

SAXOPHONIST FLIP PHILLIPS DIES AT AGE 86

Source: All About Jazz

Flip Phillips died at the age of 86 on Friday, August 17th at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.

The veteran tenor saxophonist made a bold impact on jazz history-especially during stints with Woody Herman and as part of the landmark Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts from the 1940s and 1950s, playing alongside his peers, such as Charlie Parker and Lester Young. But it wasn't until the year 2000 that Flip released his first-ever major label recording as a ...
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