Biography

• Jack Phillips is an aspiring young artist, entrepreneur, and working/freelance musician. With nearly a decade of professional experience working with small groups, contracting in commercial and corporate events, and working with compositional and artistic goals as a solo musician and leader, Jack is working on developing his own contributions which he can provide to the field of jazz and music as a whole.

  Hailing from a small rural town in the throes of economic strife, Jack was self-taught with guidance of a key educator in his life, Jon Arnold, his band director. Such a critical figure noticed the spark of love for music within Jack and encouraged him to pursue a career, despite the odds being against him financially at the time.

  Now moving on with his undergraduate at the University of Cincinnati, Jack is pursuing his master’s at the University of North Texas; being amongst the greatest music schools in the country. His goals there are to achieve a level of consistency as a performer and working musician, as is the case with many current and former students of the institution. As well, he wishes to develop his artistry as he delves into the more conceptual sides of music in pursuance of communication. As the great Wynton Marsalis once imparted on to Jack, “the final form of being a musician is creating art. saying something with your music”. These words ring true as he grows older, and such wisdom is now actualized as he opens up a new and hopeful chapter in his life.

  No matter the situation, Jack is a seasoned musician who has endured and overcome much to achieve what he has and what he will come to achieve. With such strong educators past, present, and future, he serves a purpose for the music, and for the people.