St. James Live Jazz Club

If there’s one particular word which comes to mind while both describing critically hailed saxophonist MIKE PHILLIPS and an ongoing theme of his illustrious music career within the jazz, R&B and even hip-hop worlds, it would be “authentic.”

Phillips latest groove-driven smooth-jazz musical offering, Pulling Off The Covers, cleverly turns out to be not only the soundtrack of his life but many of ours as well. “When you’re doing a cover, you do it your way…you do it how you do it,” Phillips explains of both the title and overall approach to his multi-influenced new set. “The song has to have swag and personality, and a harmonic or melodic outlook on something that already exists.

At the age of 16, Mike made an impromptu debut at New York City’s Wilson’s night club in 1993. He became a regular presence at various open-mic jam sessions in Manhattan’s live music scene, and soon thereafter found himself scoring sessions and sideman work within jazz, R&B and hip-hop circles. He soon signed with Hidden Beach recordings, and in 2001 began touring as the opening act for Jill Scott. He later began performing with “Prince” from 2004 – 2012.