Earl Phillips

Earl Phillips serves as Professor of Jazz Trombone and Composition/Arranging Faculty at Rowan University's College of the Arts, Department of Music, while also directing the university's Jazz Ensemble. He extends his educational impact as Music Theory and Music Technology Instructor at Cherokee High School and contributes to jazz scholarship through the Thad Jones Living Archive at William Patterson University.

His academic credentials include:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Bass Trombone Performance (2004, University of the Arts, with honors)
• Master’s Degree in Music Education (2005, University of the Arts, with honors)
• Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance/Jazz Composition (2011, Rowan University)

Phillips' creative scholarship centers on jazz performance practice, big band composition, and historical research into Thad Jones' legacy. His pedagogical approach integrates Grammy-winning recording experience (notably on John Legend's Luther Vandross tribute album) with archival scholarship, emphasizing real-world application through ensemble direction and composition workshops. This methodology earned him the 2020 New Jersey Association of Jazz Education Teacher of the Year award for sustaining All-State Jazz Ensembles during the pandemic.

His recognitions include:

• 2020 New Jersey Association of Jazz Education Teacher of the Year

As mentor and ensemble director, Phillips cultivates professional pathways through the Earl Phillips Big Band's recording projects (e.g., 'Step Lightly', 2023) and connections to industry professionals. His leadership in maintaining competitive jazz education during the pandemic demonstrated innovative resource allocation for virtual ensemble training.

Phillips operates the Earl Phillips Big Band as his primary creative laboratory, producing original compositions and recordings since 2007, while his archival research at William Patterson University provides unique scholarly resources for student engagement with primary jazz manuscripts.