Hidden Beach NAACP Image Award nominated saxophonist Mike Phillips has changed the game and fans are responding. Armed with his signature passion and magnetic presence, this talented musician challenges established jazz norms by embracing a variety of musical influences while adding his own unique flavor to the mix.

After choosing Mike for a coveted spot in his world renowned NPG Band during his 90-city Musicology Tour, Rolling Stone quoted Prince praising Mike’s solo performances saying, “Wow, listen to those people responding, and all he’s doing is playing a saxophone. They can feel that what he’s doing is real. So many shows now…their so dead. But here’s one man breathing into an instrument, and the whole room feels alive. It made me want to rise up to that level when I came back onstage.”

Like so many top talents, Mike began his love affair with music very early in life, experimenting with a list of instruments, before settling on the saxophone. The ambitious student diligently practiced his craft, wood shedding with a vengeance. By the time he reached 16 he knew he wanted to do it for a living.

In 1993, Phillips made his presence felt with his now legendary debut performance at Wilson’s, a popular NYC jazz and R&B hotspot. Invited by a friend playing with the house band, Mike unexpectedly took the stage and to the surprise of the bandleader, started riffing before anyone asked him to sit in. Gradually, the bewildered looks of the other players (and audience) morphed into amazed smiles. But, no smile was bigger than his own when musical icon Stevie Wonder, who was there, subsequently offered Mike a job playing with him at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebration in South Africa. And Mike continues to play with him, most recently in Japan and a whirlwind tour of the Netherlands.

Phillips has been entertaining audiences with his genre-blending sax play and the help of notable artists from an array of musical arenas. They include contemporary jazz luminaries the likes of Wayman Tisdale, Jonathan Butler and Jeff Lorber to R&B superstars Babyface, Brian McKnight and Jill Scott. His debut album, You Have Reached Mike Phillips entered Billboards Contemporary Jazz chart at #4 while his recently released sophomore release, Uncommon Denominator, has already reached #3.

Via Mike's guest performances on Hidden Beach's Experience: Jill Scott 826+ and the chart-topping hip hop/jazz effort Unwrapped volumes among other projects, music lovers have enjoyed a small sampling of Phillips's skills. Skills that earn him the distinction of being the first and only non-athlete endorsed by Brand Jordan, joining such fellow members as Derek Jeter and Carmelo Anthony.

In addition to a multitude of personal appearances including Pop-Jazz concerts and events, a host of jazz festivals, the Capital One Bowl, Phoenix Open, Black Ski Summit, and the McDonald’s Williams Sisters Tour, Mike can also be seen on his BET J lifestyle show Mike’s World.

Web Site: www.smooth-jazz.de/Artists3/Phillips.html

Performance Date:
May 27, 2007
Time: 6:00pm (Scheduled Estimated Time)

Press Conference:
Sunday May 27th, 2007
Location: Long Bay Resort Conference Room
Time: TBA