Mark Joseph Phillips

Hello and welcome to my musical landing page. I created this little website to make it easy for more people to enjoy my music.

I'm a jazz guitarist based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts who loves to play swing, traditional, and straight ahead styles of jazz.

For now, samples of my music live on my Instagram: @MarkPhillipsGuitar

If you're interested in hiring me for a gig, I'd love to talk: [email protected]

I perform in a variety of contexts, from restaurants to weddings and private events, and can play as a solo guitarist, in duo format, or with a full band. I pride myself on being easy to work with.

More about me:

I've been playing guitar since sixth grade, and jazz since college when I became an avid listener of "Gypsy Jazz", or jazz manouche, focusing primarily on rhythm guitar and occasionally attending jam sessions at the World Cafe Live.

In 2015 I experienced repetitive strain injuries in my hands wrists which changed the trajectory of my professional career and set me back a few years musically. I experienced a complete recovery after discovering the work of the Psychophysiologic Pain Disorder Association, which I write about here.

As of 2024, I am the most interested in playing “Hot Swing” and traditional American jazz while continuing to chip away at the marble block of the Great American Songbook.

My current project, Hot Chestnut, endeavors to draw from the best of these traditions to create a musical experience that even people who “hate jazz” can enjoy and maybe even dance to.

The musical premise of Hot Chestnut is to provide a foundational, toe-tapping rhythm section for a rotating guest list of my favorite solo horn or woodwind players who also happen to be available for the gig.

If you're a venue looking for a bio, here you go:

Mark Phillips is a jazz guitarist based in Great Barrington, Massachusetts who loves to play swing and traditional jazz.

Hot Chestnut, his latest project, draws inspiration from traditional, straight ahead, and jazz manouche to create a listening experience for everyone.