His name might not be that familiar to you, but his music will be! We’re talking about composer, multi-instrumentalist, synth programmer and record producer PHIL FIELD.
A classical piano graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Phil started to make his name with Dayton, funk and disco band Aurra. Phil co-wrote six songs for their album, ‘Send Your Love’, including their first big hit, ‘Are You Single’ in 1981. A year later Mr F linked up with James Mtume. He co-wrote songs for the Mtume band’s albums ‘Juicy Fruit’ and ‘You, Me and He’. Phil was also the band’s MD. In ’85 he moved on to work with vibes master Roy Ayers, producing seven songs on Roy’s 1985 album, ‘You Might Be Surprised’, and co-wrote the hit single, ‘Hot’. Then, in the 90s he co-wrote ‘How Many Ways’ for Toni Braxton. In more recent times, Phil’s songs have been sampled by people like The Notorious B.I.G., Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez and Jay-Z while he’s collaborated with artists like Gwen Guthrie, Mavis Staples, The Bar-Kays, Nancy Wilson and Gerald Levert. Oh, and he’s also an in-demand film and TV composer!
Quite a CV… and amidst all that Phil still finds time to record and perform with his own band, the imaginatively named PHIL FIELD BAND! Right now the band are working on an album for early 2024 release but they’re currently promoting two singles. First up there’s ‘Here We Go’ – a light hybrid of funk, soul and smooth jazz which Phil’s team tells us is the band’s forté. Vocals on the track are down to Phil’s wife, singer-songwriter Dee Jackson Field. Phil plays keys and synths with Lenny Covington on drums and Buddy Hankerson on bass (anoraks will recognize that name from his work with Steve Arrington).
The band’s second current single is a livelier affair – ‘No More Tears (The Remix)’. This is much more of a dancer with a catchy chorus hook and lively percussion. Once again Mrs Fields is on vocals while Steve Thornton delivers that “lively percussion”. Interestingly, Thornton is known as “Miles Davis’ last percussionist” – a sweet touch, as you’ll know that James Mtume got his big break all those years ago as percussionist with the iconic trumpeter – serendipity or what?
Learn more @ https://www.southvalleysound.com/philfield.html
