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June 2019

Phil Wilson

The phone rings in my office. It’s Rudy Van Gelder! He says . . . did you write Basically Blues . . . yes I did . . . well Buddy Rich just recorded it. Where do we send the check?

Hip-Bone Music slides (pun intended) into our bone2pick summer season featuring an extraordinary sit down with a true jazz icon, the great Phil Wilson. The legendary trombonist / educator / arranger looks back on his illustrious career and shares his memories of being an important part of Woody Herman’s famed ’60s Thundering Herd band, arranging for Buddy Rich and receiving a Grammy nod for his Mercy, Mercy, Mercy chart, performing with Louis Armstrong on the ’64 Grammy Awards show, his 50 years as a distinguished professor at the Berklee College of Music and ultimately receiving an honorary doctorate, founding Outrageous Mother publications with Rich Matteson and Jack Peterson and having the City of Boston declare December 9th 1995 as Phil Wilson Day! A wonderful reflection on a truly extraordinary life in music. Enjoy!

Filed under: Berklee College of Music, Buddy Rich, Grammy award, jazz, jazz education, trombone, Woody Herman
Newer interview Ralph Alessi
Older interview Tanya Darby

Comments

Kit Barry - February 17, 2026

Phil,

In Exeter when I was a little boy in the late 1950’s, you would come to our house to visit one of your classmates, my sister Emmy. And most of your time there you spend at our piano.

And what a special time for me in the attention you gave me while you played. You were a piano clown special for me with making goofy faces, saying silly things, goofing around on the keyboard, and even getting so carried away – falling off the piano bench “by mistake”.

You were giving attention and specialness to me while I lived in a house where there was a lacking of attention to an 8 year old boy.

Oh what crazy faces you made looking right at me, and “getting distracted” to the point of falling off the piano bench to the floor. Today at 78 years old now, the memories you gave me are still in me and provide a soft place in a pebbled field.

Thank you, Phil
Thank you, Philly

Kit

Rus - September 11, 2019

Love these interviews. Please keep on keepin’ on. Your site is such an incredible resource. I wasn’t able to discern what Mr. Wilson says at around the 4:02 minute mark. “You know that [indiscernible] that goes up your back when something is right?” I understand the sentiment, but I’d really like to know what words he used. Thanks again for the many thoughtful and educational interviews!

Michael Gibbs - September 11, 2019

My Dear Phil – I was so so very pleased to see you – even so briefly – at my 80th extravagant celebration at Berklee October 2017 – missed getting in a game of racquetball!!
Thank you for being there – if I can wangle a one more visit – hope we can hang more /—love you. Mike

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