During
the release of her third album, Rosemary Phillips is launching her career
in Europe and North America. She impressed Charles
Dumont, world famous composer for Edith Piaf. Dumont, writer of the famous
" Non, je ne Regrette Rien ". On hearing Rosemary sing, he exclaimed: “you
have the voice I have been looking for to sing songs I have written but never-before-released.”
While working together on the music in St. Barthes, Charles Dumont gave Rosemary
3 songs, one of which was "L’amour Comme ça ",
co-written by Frédéric Zéitoun ( top talk show host
of “France 3”). The song moved Rosemary so much that she decided
to call her 3rd album “L’amour Comme ça.”
On this album Rosemary is accompanied by the famous Jazz Pianist Charles
Loos, who had performed with Rosemary during numerous concerts in Europe
and in the Caribbean. In addition to his 30 albums, he has performed with
Chet Baker, Toots Thielman, Art Farmer, and Maurane amongst others.
The interpretation of the songs: " L’amour Comme Ça" as
well as the famous " Non je ne Regrette Rien " ( which then later
were worked on by Charles Loos and Rosemary at Charles Dumont’s residence
in Paris) were praised by numerous professionals, along with songs in English
and Spanish of which Rosemary is the composer and lyricist.
At Charles Dumont’s request Rosemary then made a music video to the song “L’amour
Comme Ça” filmed by Victor Torres from Cuba. The music video is
being played in over 18 countries of the Caribbean.
On this same album is an original Jazz song called “Advantage” by
Anthony Gabby Carter (Barbados’ top Calypsonian as well as Barbados’ Cultural
Ambassador). Rosemary’s first album called " Jazz à la Rosemary
" was recorded with pianist Adrian Clarke from Barbados. On this album there
are Jazz
standards, Barbadian folk songs in Jazz, as well as some French classics.
Rosemary’s first recording was with the London Symphony Orchestra and French
composer Saint-Preux.
In 2007 Rosemary Phillips was given the title " Best Jazz Artist " by
the Barbadian Music Awards. Seven years prior, Rosemary was awarded
the
prize for "Excellence in performing arts and poetry " by the songwriter
for Harry Belafonte: Irving Burgie.
Born in Barbados to an English mother and a Barbadian Father, the jazz star has
performed at numerous Festivals in the Caribbean, in Jamaica, Trinidad, and in
the Grenadines….
In Barbados she put on her "Rosemary Phillips Show ", during which
she performed with Alastair Kay, one of the trumpeters for Ella Fitzgerald as
well
as Barbadian guitarist Michael Sealy who worked with Sarah Vaughan. Rosemary
Phillips also had the honour of opening a concert for Bryan Adams in Barbados.
More recently Rosemary Phillips performed accompanied by Lloyd Wilson Jr. who
performed in the Count Bassie Orchestra, as well as at a private function for
Prince Edward of England ( brother of Prince Charles) at the St. Nicolas Abbey
in 2007.
During her international Career, Rosemary Phillips performed in Jazz clubs, as
well as on stages in Russia, in the United Arab Emirates, in Germany as well
as in Canada where she performed at a Jazz Festival entitled " Jazz Divas " in
Rimouski, Québec. In 2006, during a live broadcast, Rosemary Phillips
performed for the Independence Celebration of Barbados in front of over 12 000
people,
along with Jimmy Haynes, winner of the prestigious Grammy Award for
his album with Steel Pulse. In May 2006, Rosemary Phillips caught the attention
of BBC World and was interviewed and filmed performing on " Destination
Music " broadcast worldwide.In June 2006 Rosemary was invited to take part
in the events organised around the hundredth anniversary of Josephine Baker at
the castle Les Milandes in France, the former home of Josephine
Baker.
Rosemary Phillips’ performance with the Jo Ganter Quartet, as well as with
Dany Revel (one of Josephine Baker’s pianists) was unanimously praised
by the public and by the media. This trip was aided by the Ministry of Culture,
Mr Estwick as well as by Minister Atherley and Marjorie Clarke at the Prime Minister’s
office.
During her performance with accordionist Jean Michel Delpech, for the inauguration
of the Josephine Baker statue, the Sud Ouest newspaper wrote
that when Rosemary Phillips sang " a shiver ran through the audience ….Josephine
Baker is once again living in les Milandes ".
As a result of her success Radio Bergerac named Rosemary the heartthrob of the
summer.
Rosemary is currently performing at the hot spots of France including the famous “Cassino
of Bearitz”, as well as the renown “ Music Village” one of
the top Jazz clubs of Europe, where she performed with the Charles Loos Trio
for a “Sold Out” concert in Febuary 2007.
Rosemary has been over the past few years following the footsteps of black icons
in their struggle against racism ( Billie Holiday, Nina Simone…)
She gained a Master’s Degree from the University of the West Indies
with her final thesis on an analysis of the songs sung by the Jazz and Blues
greats in the socio-historical context of the times with an emphasis on Josephine
Baker which she plans on publishing.
Rosemary tries to keep the legacy of Josephine Baker alive and her dream of
bringing all races and cultures together.
Rosemary is proud that she has a combination of Polish, Russian Scottish, English,
German and Caribbean roots and loves to embrace all cultures. She enjoys singing
in more than three languages – even in Russian! She is bi lingual virtually
tri-lingual.
Rosemary not only performs on stage but she has made presentations at the University
of the West Indies and has been approached by several universities in America
as well as in France to speak about her research.
Her concerts often touch on intriguing aspects of the Jazz and blues greats
of the 1930’s and 40’s.
Rosemary is driven by an inspirational experience when she gained a scholarship
to an American Camp called “Camp Rising Sun” which brought people
from all over the world to build peace and to explore the arts in a profound
way.
Rosemary’s generosity and her motivation to help the world has also made
her take part in concerts to raise funds for numerous non governmental organizations
particularly the Duke of Edinburgh Award program, lead by Prince Philip, as
well as the Kidney Association of Barbados and the Sixt charity out of Germany.
(For a printable bio, click here.... for biographie Francaise, click here.)