Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

September 8, 1941 – March 25, 1992

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

From the start

It is interesting how we “discover” a musician only to find that they were far larger and wider than we ever suspected. Think Columbus and his “discovery” of the Americas.

I first saw his name when I started listening to the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, but Phillips was well-established already when he joined Butterfield in 1967.

Wilson had made his recording debut in 1962 on with Sam Lazar on Playback. In the mid-’60s, Wilson became a member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, an avant-garde jazz group. He cut albums with it as well as the band’s co-founder Roscoe Mitchell.

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Paul Butterfield Blues Band

Joining Paul Butterfield and Gene Dinwiddie in 1967, Wilson soon found himself playing at the first most famous rock festival: the Monterey International Pop Festival.  Though the audience and resulting movie gave Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and the Who the stellar ovations, Paul Butterfield Blues Band garnered recognition as well.

Phillip Wilson was also with the band when it played early that august sunny Sunday morning in Bethel, NY just before Sha Na Na and Jimi Hendrix. One of the songs featured was Wilson’s “Love March.”

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Post Woodstock…

Wilson remained with the Butterfield until the early ’70s. From there he always remained active as a player, a producer, a composer, and occasional vocalist with:

  • Anthony Braxton
  • Full Moon
  • Julius Hemphill
  • Lightin’ rod
  • Roscoe Mitchell
  • David Murry
  • Hamiet Bluiett
  • INTERface
  • Martha and Fontella Bass
  • Lester Bowie
  • Peter Khuh
  • James Newton
  • Elliot Sharp
  • Bill Lasell
  • The Last Poets
  • Deadline
  • Soren Anders
  • Frank Lowe
  • Blues Brass Connection
  • The Rance Allen Group
  • Art Ensemble of Chicago
  • Paul Zauner’s Blue Brass

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Dogon A.D.

In 1972, Wilson was part of band that Julius Hemphill had for the Dogon A.D. album.

In a Do the Math article, David Sanborne said of Wilson: Wilson is one of the ultimate insider’s insiders, a brilliant force of possibly unprecedented range, unknown to many despite playing with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band (including at Woodstock, where they played the Wilson composition “Love March”) and contributing one the most important drum performances to the avant jazz canon on Julius Hemphill’s Dogon A.D.

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Phillip Wilson Project

He also released a few of his own albums including The Phillip Wilson Project.

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

 Untimely death

Wilson was still actively pursuing his musical career when he was murdered on March 25, 1992.

Marvin Slater was convicted 1997 and sentenced to 33 1/3 years in  prison.

Slater appealed the conviction and on  January 11, 2000, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, First Department upheld the verdict.

The Court said in part, “The verdict was based on legally sufficient evidence and was not against the weight of the evidence. We see no reason to disturb the jury’s determinations concerning credibility.

Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson

7 thoughts on “Remembering Drummer Phillip Wilson”

  1. My older brother introduced me to Phillip Wilson about the same time he was murdered by Marvin Slater the real story was that Slater ask Phillip for 2$ and Mr.Wilson told him he had no money that’s when Marvin Slater became outraged and pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr.Wilson to death on 9th Street m

  2. My older brother introduced me to Phillip Wilson about the same time he was murdered by Marvin Slater the real story was that Slater ask Phillip for 2$ and Mr.Wilson told him he had no money that’s when Marvin Slater became outraged and pulled out a knife and stabbed Mr.Wilson to death on 9th Street when I visited my brother who lived on 10th street he told me what had happened to Phillip Wilson I couldn’t believe it over 2$ .

    1. Ruben
      The 2 $ motive rumor/fake news you are unwittingly promoting is not supported by the evidence presented at the trial that led the jury to convict the defendant Marvin Slater of premeditated murder of Phillip Wilson at 440 E 9 St. A knife was not the weapon used. Peace.

      1. I good friends with Phillip’s widow, Anne.

        You are correct. It was not a knife. The story she tells is far more disturbing than anything out there. But it is for her to share, not me.

  3. Knew Phil in Woodstock a bit but reconnected with him in the late 1970s in Europe, where he was working with Charles Tyler. He was very kind and helpful to me getting settled in Amsterdam. It was heartbreaking to lose him to a senseless death. Very nice to see him remembered for his music.

Leave a Reply to Ruben Riera Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.