AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Flip Phillips

Artist:Flip Phillips

Song Poor Butterfly

Album:At the Helm: Live at the 1993 Floating Jazz Festival

Sax player Flip Phillips was probably best known for his days with Jazz at the Philharmonic in the 50s. He retired in 1959 but he returned in the late 70s. He was born Joseph Edward Philippeli Mar. 26, 1915 in Brooklyn, NY. He played in several bands including Frankie Newton, Benny Goodman and Red Norvo. But where Phillips really made his name was with Woody Herman's Herd from 1944-46. Norman Granz hired him for Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP). Phillips was a member of JATP from 1946-57. He first recorded as a leader in 1952 mostly for Granz' Clef label. Then Phillips retired and moved to Florida. He returned in the late 70s and Phillips recorded mostly for Chiaroscuro. Poor Butterfly is from the 1993 album At the Helm. This was recorded live on the SS Norway in the Caribbean Sea. Musicians are Derek Smith on piano, Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass and Ray Mosca on drums. Poor Butterfly was written by Raymond Hubbell and John L. Golden for the 1916 Broadway show The Big Show. It was inspired by Puccini's Madame Butterfly. After The Hilltoppers scored a top 20 hit with Poor Butterfly in 1954, Sarah Vaughan recorded the song. It became a jazz standard recorded by many jazz musicians. Phillips continued to tour and record until his death on Aug. 17, 2001 at age 86. His final album Swing Is the Thing was released in 2000 on Verve with Benny Green on piano, Howard Alden on guitar, Christian McBride on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. That's a pretty good swan song. Here's Flip Phillips with Dick Hyman on piano, Howard Alden on guitar, Milt Hinton on bass and Butch Miles on drums performing Poor Butterfly at Phillips' 80th birthday celebration 1995. This video is not on  Youtube.