Artist description Pianist Phill Argyris has studied with the legendary pianist Harold Mabern and Cedar Walton. Phill's original compositions are said to reflect the influences of James Williams and John Coltrane. Phill's music clearly expresses the classic American jazz tradition.Phill says of his own style: "I like hard driving, swinging rhythms, melodic compositions and the use of fourths in harmonies." Ken Williams, Manager of the 1359 Jazz Club in Cambridge says of Phill: "Sometimes when I listen to people play, it sounds like they come from the North Pole. When Phill plays, it sounds like the music is coming from Florida ...warm." His piano style has also been described as aggressive.

Music Style Mainstream Jazz, Straight Ahead Jazz, Bebop

Musical Influences Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner, Red Garland, Harold Mabern

Similar Artists Bud Powell, McCoy Tyner, Red Garland, Harold Mabern

Artist History Over the past 10 years, the quartet has performed throughout New England at jazz clubs and festivals. They performed at the American Art Festival in Pont-Aven, Brittainy, France in 1995. Their recordings have been broadcast on all major Boston Area jazz radio stations as well as in Worcester, MA and Portland, ME.

Group Members The core members of the Phill Argyris Quartet include: guitarist Bob Johnson of Stow,MA, bassist Jerry Wilfong and drummer John Connelly both of Framingham, MA. Frequent special guests with the quartet include saxophonist Stan Strickland and trumpeter Phil Grenadier.

Instruments Piano, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Saxophones and Trumpet

Albums A Point of Balance

Press Reviews Bob Blumenthal of the Boston Globe wrote: "Argyris, a student of the great Harold Mabern, ... brings a similar two-handed intensity to his work....". A review of a live performance on a summer evening in the Stow Villager says "...the audience enjoyed the music so much it ignored the heat and wanted to hear more." "Le Phill Argyris Quartet, venu, avec la vocaliste Margot Law, la veille, tout specialement de Boston offrait un concert de jazz oux accents tres cool." - Le Telegramme, Concarneau, France

Location Arlington, MA - USA

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