First View

 

What do we need on a hot summer day? Cool music! Mike Phillips is back with "Uncommon Denominator". An album full of new ideas. More than one hour playtime! The Algematics "common denominator" command expresses a sum of fractions as one fraction over a common denominator. But how do we define "Uncommon Denominator"? 

The album starts with the interlude Once Again Mike Phillips. A dark bass played by Travon Potts (Anastacia, Christina Aguilera), Tandria Potts is announcing Mike who is playing his sax in his own way.

On Uncommon Denominator  Mike explodes like a firestorm. Mike pulls all the stops of overdubbing. Joel Whitely on bass and Bennet Paysinger on Rhodes are assisting him perfectly. 

Crazy is a superior mixture of turntable hip hop, contemporary urban and smooth jazz. We are familiar with this sound since "Unwrapped Volume One". Mike don't hesitate to improvise along the scales in such a perfect style that I thought to myself. Is this man born with a mouthpiece between his lips? All other instruments on this tune were performed by Gary Haase. Gary worked with the Brecker brothers ("34th N Lex"), John Pizzarelli ("Sing, Sing, Sing"), Jessica Simpson ("Rejoyce") or Michael Bolton ("Only A Woman Like You"). In his musical career as jazz artist he has made some jumps to other genres. A real proof of his versatility.

Mike has his ear close to the pulse of time, the Heartbeat of the City. Groovy rhythm and Mike's dreamy sax are a stellar highlight of smooth jazz. Jeff Lorber is the master of keys, drum programming, recording and all necessary adds. Ron King gives some nice brass with flugelhorn and trumpet. 

If It Takes All Night that doesn't matter. Feel the vibe of R&B with "JR" Hutson (Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Programming), Trina Powell's sweet vocals and the marvelous Mike Phillips.

Minnie could be the follow up. Slow and romantic, languishing and profound.

Produced and recorded by "JR" Hutson G-Money has the typical Mike Phillips signature: Excellent overdubbs, vibrant tones, improvisations and feelings.

Janek Gwizdala is a Jazz bass player from NY. If one listens to his solo album one is really searching the common denominator with Mike Phillips. Don't Panic is the answer. Two minds and but a single thought. 

We Are One is featuring Samir Elmehdaoui on 8 bar guitar and Jeff Lorber on 32 bar organ. Old instruments with retro feeling, really thrilling. Jeff is one of the rare producers who makes a good album to a hit. One knows when an album cannot be better feeling this historical moment.

Fiesta is featuring Carl Burnett. This guitar player has played and recorded with the likes of Branford Marsalis, David Sanborn, Robben Ford, Boney James, Larry Carlton, Hiroshima and the late George Howard. Spanish flavor ala Peter White and Marc Antoine.

86th and Broadway is a further Gary Haase production. Named by the heart of NY one is aware of the traffic, crowds of pedestrians, surrounding shops and lights.

The funky Uptown on a Saturday Night is featuring Jeff Lorber again. Mike is playing on this tune besides sax an EWI. If you want to learn more about electronic wind instruments read here.

Ivan Dupee from the Chicago-based Dupee productions already produced Mike's "Just One Take" and "You Have Reached Mike Phillips". Now he is back with Flow. A little unusual but perfectly placed the vocal refrain.

In music we trust, in Rex Rideout we trust more. Rex Rideout is the in-demand producer since his collections "Forever, For Always, For Luther", "Ridin' High" and "Club 1600". On  Brent's Bounce we can listen to Michael White (drums), Dwight Sills (guitar), Sekou Bunch (bass) and Rex (keys). Slow and funky.

If U Had a Heart is featuring Sherrod Barnes on guitar. Sherrod performed with Jason Miles, Barry Danielian, Roberta Flack or Cassandra Reed. An awesome duet of guitar and sax.

On the last tune  Mike & Michaella Michaella Mike's little daughter is asking: "Daddy what that Uncommon Denominator mean anyway?" We know the answer now.

Don't walk by. This album deserves your full attention.

 

 

 

 

 

  

Title: Uncommon Denominator
Artist: Mike Phillips
Year: 2005
Length: 1:03:14
Genre: Smooth Jazz
Label: Hidden Beach Records


Tracks: 

01 Once Again Mike Phillips (Interlude) [0:46]
02 Uncommon Denominator [3:30]
03 Crazy [5:15]
04 Heartbeat Of The City [4:15]
05 If It Takes All Night [4:44]
06 Minnie [4:17]
07 G-Money [3:10]
08 Don't Panic [3:42]
09 We Are One [6:57]
10 Fiesta [4:16]
11 86th And Broadway [4:42]
12 Uptown On A Saturday Night [4:12]
13 Flow [4:02]
14 Brent's Bounce [3:32]
15 If U Had A Heart [4:54]
16 Mike And Michaela [1:01]

Once Again Mike Phillips (Interlude)
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Travon Potts for Providence Media Group
Recorded by Travon Potts at Providence Recording Studio, Alpharetta, GA
Sax : Mike Phillips
Vocal: Tandria Potts
All other Instruments: Travon Potts


Uncommon Denominator
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by "JR" Hutson for Lifeline Entertainment
Recorded by "JR" Hutson at Canoga Studios, Chatsworth, CA
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums & Programming: "JR" Hutson
Bass & Guitar: Joel Whitely
Rhodes: Bennet Paysinger

Crazy
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Gary Haase
Recorded and mixed by Gary Haase at       Headman Sound, New York, NY
Sax: Mike Phillips
All other Instruments: Gary Haase

Heartbeat Of The City (featuring Jeff Lorber)
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Jeff Lorber
Recorded by Jeff Lorber at JHL Sound, Pacific Palidades, CA
Sax: Mike Phillips
Guitar: Marlon McClain
Keys: Jeff Lorber
Trumpet & Flugelhorn: Ron King
Programming, Drums, & Guitar: Jeff Lorber

If It Takes All Night
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by "JR" Hutson for Lifeline Entertainment
Recorded by "JR" Hutson at Canoga Studios, Chatsworth, CA
Sax: Mike Phillips
Vocals: Trina Powell
Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keys, Programming: "JR" Hutson
Additional Keys: Jason Freean
Percussion: Jeff Byrd

Minnie
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Jerry Barnes
Recorded by Aya Takemura at Avatar Studios, New York, NY
Assistant Engineer: Steve Mace
ProTools Session: Brian Montgomery
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums: Ricardo Jordan
Bass, Percussion, Background Vocals: Jerry Barnes
Guitar: Sherrod Barnes
Keys: Selan Lerner

G-Money
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by "JR" Hutson for Lifeline Entertainment
Recorded by "JR" Hutson at Canoga Studios, Chatsworth, CA
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums, Guitar & Keys: "JR" Hutson
Percussion: Alan Plummer

Don't Panic
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Janek Gwizdala
Recorded by Janek Gwizdala, Donald Parker, Eric Parker at Parker Music,
Newark, NJ
Sax: Mike Phillips
Programming, Drums, Bass, Keyboards: Janek Gwizdala
Additional Programming & Keyboards: Eric Parker

We Are One
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced & Arranged by Steve McKeever
Recorded by Nicolas Fournier at Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA,  Ivan
Dupee at Dupee Studios, Chicago, IL
& Jeff Lorber at JHL Sound, Pacific Palisades, CA
Guitar Recorded by Brant Biles at Mi Casa Multimedia Hollywood, CA
Lead and background Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums:  Ronnie L. Breaux, Jr.
Bass: (badd ass) Richard Patterson
Rhythm Guitars: Brant Biles & Marlon McClain
8 bar guitar solo: Samir Elmehdaoui
Percussion:  Alan Plummer
Real Suitcase Fender Rhodes, Organ Pads  &  Synth: Brandon Coleman
32 Bar Organ Solo and Real Suitcase Rhodes Overdubs: Jeff Lorber
Synth Overdubs: Steve McKeever

Fiesta
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Ivan Dupee for Dupee Productions
Recorded by Ivan Dupee at Dupee Studios, Chicago, IL  &  Tobey Betthauser
at Pressure Point Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
Assistant Engineer (Pressure Point): Brian Cabanatuam
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums: Khari Parker
Bass: Richard Patterson
Acoustic Guitar: Carl Burnett
Electric Piano: Mike Logan
Organ & Programming: Ivan Dupee
Percussion: Paul Wertico
Additional Percussion: Jonathan Pierre
Synth & Programming: Shawn Hibbler
Project Coordinator: Kareem Wells for Dupee Productions

86th & Broadway
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Gary Haase
Recorded by Gary Haase & George Whitty at Headman Sound, New York, NY
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums, Bass, & Guitar: Gary Haase
Keys & Strings: George Whitty

Uptown On A Saturday Night (featuring Jeff Lorber)
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Jeff Lorber
Recorded by Jeff Lorber at JHL Sound, Pacific Palidades, CA
Sax & EWI: Mike Phillips
Guitar: Marlon McClain
Keys: Jeff Lorber
Trumpet & Flugelhorn: Ron King
Programming, Drums, & Guitar: Jeff Lorber

Flow
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Ivan Dupee for Dupee Productions
Recorded by Ivan Dupee at Dupee Studios, Chicago, IL  &  Tobey Betthauser
at Pressure Point Recording Studios, Chicago, IL
Assistant Engineer (Pressure Point): Brian Cabanatuam
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums: Khari Parker
Bass: Richard Patterson
Acoustic Guitar: Carl Burnett
Electric Piano: Mike Logan
Organ & Programming: Ivan Dupee
Percussion: Paul Wertico
Additional Percussion: Jonathan Pierre
Synth & Programming: Shawn Hibbler
Project Coordinator: Kareem Wells for Dupee Productions

Brent's Bounce
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Rex Rideout for Uncle Buddie's Music
Recorded by Rex Rideout at KAR Studios, Sherman Oaks, CA & Dennis Moody at
White Lightning Studios, Sylmer, CA
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums: Michael White
Bass: Sekou Bunch
Guitar: Dwight Sills
Keys & Programming: Rex Rideout

If U Had A Heart
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced by Jerry Barnes
Recorded by Aya Takemura at Avatar Studios, New York, NY
Assistant Engineer: Steve Mace
ProTools: Brian Montgomery
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums: Ricardo Jordan
Bass, Percussion & Background Vocals: Jerry Barnes
Guitar: Sherrod Barnes
Keys: Selan Lerner

Mike & Michaella (Interlude)
(note: adapt writers and publishing from cleared label copy)
Produced By "JR" Hutson For Lifeline Entertainment
Recorded by "JR" Hutson at Canoga Studios
Sax: Mike Phillips
Drums & Programming: "JR" Hutson
Bass & Guitar: Joel Whitely
Rhodes: Bennet Paysinger
Vocals: Mike Phillips & Michaela Phillips