About
By Harold Perdomo
Born into a musical family Jonny was encouraged to play violin and piano from the age of five. In his mid teens he realized his desire to play the guitar, travel and compose. His musical journey so far has taken him throughout Europe, South America, North Africa, Scandinavia and Cyprus. His broad influences range from Brazilian Samba to Art Rock soaking up elements of African Jazz, Flamenco and Classical music along the way.
After setting up his own group Oriole In the mid 90’s featuring the likes of Ben Davis, Seb Rochford, Ingrid Laubrock, Nick Ramm and Teco Cardoso he was asked to become a founder member of the F-ire Collective. He has since released all of Orioles’ music on F-ire Recorded Music. Another notable Oriole guest has been singer Julia Biel with whom he co-composed most of her first critically acclaimed album “Not Alone”.
Both Oriole’s releases (Song for the Sleeping – 2005 and Migration – 2006) have been featured extensively on British national and regional radio and in the press. The tours that followed received two major Arts Council grants, PRSF funding, a Jerwood Rising Star Award, Jerwood Jazz Generation Artist award for a collaboration with Sao Paulo based virtuoso saxophonist Teco Cardoso and ex Miles Davis sideman Thomas Clausen. Their music has also been featured on four compilation albums and on BBC, Spanish, Portuguese and Cypriot television.
At present Jonny is based in, London.
“Our favourite jazz and world guitarist” London timeout
“Prolific guitarist-composer Jonny Phillips seems to have tunes coming out of his ears” The Guardian
