Dave Phillips
Jul 26, 2010 23:10 Filed in: Alumni
Stories
Through the summer of 1980, I worked at Mac and Bob's
rental company. Anybody remember that place? They
rented rototillers, tractors and trailers. That
winter I left for France to live with my father and
ended up staying for almost 6 years. Shortly after I
arrived, my dad got a call to play bass on a local
folk singers record, he sent me to the date. It was
there that I met musicians with whom I would play in
different projects with. Some of which brought me to
Austria, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Yugoslavia. In 1985
I lived in Paris and after 9 months, decided to move
back to the States and with the advice of my father,
New York became my new home. After taking Classical
bass lessons for about 6 months, my then teacher
recommended that I audition for music schools as they
were short on bassists. A week before the audition I
had a lung collapse and nearly missed the chance that
year, but got accepted with scholarship to the Mannes
College of Music. It was a great place to start for
me, as it was a smaller school and didn't have the
same pressures of Juilliard. It was a stretch to go
back to studying, a skill of which was not my forte
as some of you may remember! I made it through and
went on the Juilliard to finish a Masters Degree. It
was during this time that I began writing music again
and soon started a band, Freedance. We had the
pleasures of doing a few trips to Europe as well as
few trips in the States, even playing at DeAnza
College one time.
Since finishing school in 1993, I've been fortunate to play music. In 1994 I did a stint on the Les Miserables National tour which took me all over the country. I did the tour with my 1982 honda civic so I could have the pleasure of being on my own schedule as well as carry my bass with me. It was an incredible experience to see the four corners of this country by car. And when you are out there, your only worry is to show up and play every night. It took me a while to understand the discipline that it takes to play the same notes over and over and still keep your integrity and play your best. Since 1995, I have done a lot of work on Broadway and it has become my day job as it were. It's a nice group of players on the scene, many of whom supplement their income with touring, teaching etc.. It's nice to feel a part of such a thing and in a great city as well. I've also been enjoying the World Music scene here and have done tours with musicians from India, Syria and Pakistan. In 2005 my wife and I moved up to Bronxville which is a suberb about 20 miles north of the city. More room and quiet... very important.
My wife MaryAnn is an actress and is working in the revival of South Pacific which is currently at Lincoln Center. With both of us being in the arts, it allows us quite a bit of freedom... sometimes too much!
I do miss California, but not sure if at this point in life I would want to start over on a new arts scene. Everyone always asks me when I meet them and they find out I grew up in California, hey, do you know so and so? Nope, I left there right out of High School and never turned back. I do love to visit though and do so when I can. Most of the family moved away now actually, except for my sister Margot who lives in Sonoma.
Since finishing school in 1993, I've been fortunate to play music. In 1994 I did a stint on the Les Miserables National tour which took me all over the country. I did the tour with my 1982 honda civic so I could have the pleasure of being on my own schedule as well as carry my bass with me. It was an incredible experience to see the four corners of this country by car. And when you are out there, your only worry is to show up and play every night. It took me a while to understand the discipline that it takes to play the same notes over and over and still keep your integrity and play your best. Since 1995, I have done a lot of work on Broadway and it has become my day job as it were. It's a nice group of players on the scene, many of whom supplement their income with touring, teaching etc.. It's nice to feel a part of such a thing and in a great city as well. I've also been enjoying the World Music scene here and have done tours with musicians from India, Syria and Pakistan. In 2005 my wife and I moved up to Bronxville which is a suberb about 20 miles north of the city. More room and quiet... very important.
My wife MaryAnn is an actress and is working in the revival of South Pacific which is currently at Lincoln Center. With both of us being in the arts, it allows us quite a bit of freedom... sometimes too much!
I do miss California, but not sure if at this point in life I would want to start over on a new arts scene. Everyone always asks me when I meet them and they find out I grew up in California, hey, do you know so and so? Nope, I left there right out of High School and never turned back. I do love to visit though and do so when I can. Most of the family moved away now actually, except for my sister Margot who lives in Sonoma.