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It's easy to be familiar with Phil Kenzie's superb sax work. Just recall the soaring solos on Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat" or "Time Passages" still enjoying favored airplay almost twenty years after its initial release, or the punchy brass intro to "Jet" by Paul McCartney, or the inspired solo on "The Long Run" from "The Eagles Live" album. In fact, this gifted sax player/arranger has lent his masterful touch to hits by everyone from Rod Stewart to Jackson Browne...Stevie Nicks and Roseanne Cash to David Bowie, and in the process amassed some nineteen gold and platinum albums!
Now
based in the United States, Phil is
originally from the Liverpool area and in his first band, The Pressmen,
he played many of the clubs made legendary by The Beatles,
even occasionally sharing billing with the "Fab
Four",
including The Cavern and Hamburg's famous
Star Club. So it was totally appropriate that he should
later play on the most classic swan song of
the century, "Let It Be". This connection
continued as later Phil worked on recordings for Apple
Records, most notably John and Yoko's Plastic Ono Band at
Lennon's home in Ascot and all the horn section work and
solos on George Harrison's "All Things Must
Pass".
Through these sessions, Phil also worked with
such notable stars as Eric Clapton, Steven Stills, Peter
Frampton, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, Doris Troy,
and Billy Preston.
A s a sought after session man, Phil was doing gigs around London with Manfred Mann's "Chapter Three", arranging and performing shows for Jack Good's psychedelic update of Othello entitled "Catch My Soul", finding time to appear on Paul McCartney's "Band On The Run" album and to be heavily involved in the hit cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", playing and recording both the show and the movie; supplying the screaming rock sax for Meatloaf's portrayal of "Eddie". During this time Phil also worked with Alan Parsons, David Essex, Joan Armatrading, Ian Gilliam, Alex Harvey, Leo Sayer, Black Sabbath, Steve Harley, Marc Bolan, Wishbone Ash, Annie Lennox, David Bowie, The Coasters, The Temptations, Arthur Connolly, Mick Ronson, Ian Hunter and Roger Daltry, appearing on his "Ride a Rock Horse" album and on both David Bowie's "Diamond Dogs" album and his widely inventive television special "The 1980 Floor Show".
At this point Phil was asked by Alan Parsons to record what would become a legendary hit.."Year of The Cat" by Al Stewart. In the subsequent tour of America and another hit for Al, "Time Passages", he caught the attention of Rod Stewart and was asked to join his band, recording with Rod what would turn out to be his biggest album to date, "Blondes Have More Fun". Phil would ultimately appear on five albums for Rod including "Footloose and Fancy Free", "Foolish Behavior", "Rod Stewart Live" and "Greatest Hits".
After deciding to live in America, Phil worked with The Eagles, Rod Stewart, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Rodney Crowell, Roseanne Cash, Vince Gill, Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne, Karla Bonoff, Boy George, Carly Simon, Randy Meisner, Steven Stills, Poco, The Pointer Sisters, Kenny Loggins, Tom Petty, Ronnie Spector and Debbie Gibson.
Having become a highly valued musician by some of the biggest stars on either side of the Atlantic Ocean, some players might be content to sit back. Not Phil Kenzie. While maintaining a busy schedule of film, TV and recording dates, he has expanded his activities into songwriting and the production of his first album, "Unsafe Sax". Given his past record, you can bet this will be something well worth waiting for!!!
A fter meeting in Nashville in 1995 and working together on several music projects, including the new Herring & Vaughn CD, Michael and Phil have decided to join forces. They have launched a brand new independent record label that features distribution and promotion, which is based in Nashville, TN. The new company is called RealGood Records.
We encourage you to visit michaelherring.com
regularly for up to date information.
If you have any questions or comments please e-mail Phil or Michael at: philkenzie@michaelherring.com
