Phil Wigfall | Alto Saxophone
A 50 year resident of Las Vegas, UNLV and Berklee School of Music alumnus, Phil is one of the most in-demand saxophone soloist in Las Vegas. By 1991, Phil had become a featured soloist with Sheena Easton, and toured with her for eight years. Phil was also asked to tour with songwriter Babyface and Matchbox 20, but declined both to stay home to raise his two daughters.
Phil has since performed with some of the greatest names in the entertainment industry, including Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Clint Holmes, Joe Williams, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Bette Midler, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, and many others.
Photo credit: Bobby Gladd
Phil has co-written and collaborated on a track with Santa Fe leader Jerry Lopez and saxophone legend Tom Scott, on Scott’s “Reed My Lips” LP. Phil can be heard on numerous recordings, most notably his own self produced CD’s titled “Cosmic Soul” (released in 2000), inspired by John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” the futuristic dystopian “2031” (released in 2012), inspired by the movie Bladerunner, and a soon-to-be-released 3rd album of ambient works under the pen name “Great Basin 71.”
MUSIC
"Cosmic Soul"
A mixture of 80’s Miles Davis, Weather Report, and tradional jazz with a side order of R&B Hip Hop for extra flavor. These elements combined create a soundscape that takes the listener on an electric, funk-driven, metaphoric journey
I was a bit of a jazz snob before I got to Berklee. That soon changed when I had the chance to see Miles Davis live. In spite of my jazz conceit, I still wanted to see Miles play.
At that time, Miles was playing electric jazz funk. Not exactly bebop! I especially wanted to hear his new alto saxophonist, Kenny Garrett. I had met Kenny in New York in 1985 at the Village Vanguard jazz club. I was so impressed with his playing, I became more serious about jazz music.
That’s when I became a jazz snob! But when I heard Kenny Garrett playing funk and playing the HELL out of it, I realized I had been wrong! I needed to be as flexible and open-minded a musician as he was! And when I returned to Las Vegas, I returned with a more positive attitude toward all music.
