Issue #59 - Cosmic Debris Musicians Magazine - June '99
A cobblestone's-throw away from the neighbourhood pub in Cobble Hill, lies Philharmonic
Studios. From the front, the structure slightly
resembles a fast-food restaurant or coffee shop;
there is a patio and an outdoor counter with a
small sliding window for taking orders.
But you won't sniff too many burgers or
hotdogs here (though the aroma of coffee often
greets you inside). This is a teaching studio... and
on Sunday afternoons, it's a venue for a swinging
jazz jam, hosted by Stu Salmond, Bonnie
Sprinkle, Darius MacKenzie and one of the busiest players in the southern Vancouver Island
music scene... keyboardist Phil Newns.
On any given week, Phil is playing keys in
three or four combos and coaching or directing
numerous vocal groups: The Canaries, Cobble
Hill Chorus, Back Talk, 4TEY, Synergy (an adult
show choir), Hot Velvet Jazz and Kids On Stage
(a musical theatre). This is all in addition to
teaching his 120 regular students !
Constantly in demand as a session player, Phil
Newns has performed with or recorded on CDs
by Will Millar, Gene Grooms, Marty Daniels,
Jeff Moore, Chris Sherlock, Monte Nordstrom,
Eugene Smith, Mahri Sherlock, Thor & The
Thundercats, Toni Hammond & Pony Club,
The Smiley Family, Night Magic, Lori
Dusseault and Katzenjammers. He has also
been a regular player with The Headhunters,
who host the Blues Cabarets at the Cowichan
Community Centre.
At one point, he played piano tracks on a CD
by Will Millar called "Celtic Seasons of
Enchantment" (producer John Ellis). Other
musicians included members of The Chieftains
and David Gogo. Their tracks were recorded at
different times, so Phil never actually sat down
and met the other players (from The Chieftains)
until two years later... onstage at the Royal
Theatre in Victoria !
Phil's musical career started in South Africa,
when at age seven, he started playing piano. He
credits a music teacher who inspired him with a
wealth of jazz influences. By the age of thirteen,
Phil was playing Hammond organ in "Pegasus" a
weekend band based out of Durban.
"This was at the end of the sixties," Phil recalls,
"We played music by Procol Harum, Traffic..."
In the mid-seventies, Phil attended the
University of Natal and served some compulsory
time with the South African Airforce.
In 1980, Phil began working full time in a
"Vegas-style" showband in Swaziland, backing up
international cabaret artists. "They would bring their own charts. We'd play
from 10:pm til 2:am... every night of the week."
A similar job followed in Botswana, at a resort
more commonly known as Sun City (brought to
the world's attention during the 1980's by festivals
which featured big names like Paul Simon).
In 1982, Phil moved to Canada to join his
family in Vancouver. There was a lot of political
uncertainty in South Africa and the constant
threat of military call up.
Phil found work at Tom Lee Music and with
Yamaha Music Schools. He also toured around
BC in various duos. "Champagne" was one of his
busier bands during this time.
A few years later, he landed a job as head of
the Music Department at Queen Margaret's
School in Duncan and worked on a series of
music and drama collaborations... "The Sound of
Music", "Wizard of Oz".
As the Assistant Director to Beryl Regier, Phil
helped The Queen Margarets Chapel Choir
acquire three gold medals for Music Fest Canada
between 1988 and 1991.
In 1990, Phil was the Canadian champion at the Yamaha National Electone Festival in Toronto (out of 300 applicants) and he went on to represent Canada at The 26th Annual
International Electone Festival in Mexico City. This involved flying to Toronto every weekend
for four months... for a three-hour lesson with Miki Yoshimori, his personal coach... all part of a year-long rehearsal of a six-minute arrangement of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' !
1991 saw Phil directing music (with Beryl
Regier managing the choreography) at the B.C.
Winter Games. This was also the year that Phil
started Philharmonic Sounds. Since 1994, his
partner, Lori Carroll has helped out with the
administration of the busy school.
Over the past five years, Phil has also been
the musical director for numerous Shawnigan
Lake School productions: 'Grease', 'Oliver',
'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'Guys and Dolls', and
'West Side Story'.
Arrangements, orchestrations and recordings
for many individual clients has kept Phil in high
demand. This includes his work with Penny
Baker's Cowichan Valley Precision Skating
Team... International Gold winners at Los
Angeles in 1998.
His productions and shows in the Cowichan
Valley have all met with considerable success.
Most evident to myself though, are the smooth
keyboard stylings and warm textures which Phil
Newns has added to so many of the CDs now in
the Debris' library.
And if you're into jazz, you must check out the
Sunday afternoon jams at Phil Newn's Minstrel's
Gallery at 1490 Fisher Road (near the corner of
Cobble Hill Road). The host musicians are all
veteran, world class players...
Phil can be contacted at (250) 743-7860 or by
fax at 743-0830.
