november artist...

Erskine D.W. Phillips...

Q&A with Scott Hill

How did your interest in music begin? Why did you choose the piano?

My interest in music began very early in my life with my grandfather, Edgar Vallis. He played violin, with my mother on piano, and her brothers playing various instruments. As a child I was exposed to all forms of music. There was a piano in the house; I got on it.

You hear musicians talk about the “big break.” Can you relate to this statement?

My big break came in 1968 when two Bermudians came up to Toronto and started a band: Alister Simmons and Walter Phillips. I was asked to be in that band. Alister played guitar, Walter played bass, and Leonard Wright (a Canadian) played drums. I played piano and sax.
In this band I learned music composition, harmony, writing, timing, stage presence- the whole nine yards. Called “Royal Flush”, we were the best band on the Holiday Inn circuit in Canada the 70s.

What was it like on the road?

Road travel in Canada and parts of the USA in the 60s, 70s, 80s, was both thrilling and frightening. When starting out as a new band, the clubs or bars or taverns were not the best, as far as location, clientele, ambience, and safety go. However after your product improves, that is your musicianship, style, professionalism, all of that, things get better. No more hot dog beds. What? You’re not familiar with hot dog beds?! You have obviously not lived on the road. To enlighten: A hot dog bed is one that after you have positioned yourself in the middle of the bed, the mattress folds up around you. It takes an hour to get out of such a contraption! Long hours behind the wheel of a truck. I have seen the miles between Halifax and Vancouver round trip 7 times, with all of the scenery in between. A wonderful, glorious never to be regretted experience.

What would you say to a music student interested in a career in music?

Today the music business is just that- a business. Not that is was ever anything else, however today the artist has to be up front, hands on, business savvy, and ahead of the game. The music as the product has been diminished in quality. Much of the artistry and magic of the craft has become secondary to the dollar. My advice: Stay true to your ideal of perfection in your craft.

When I think of jazz, I immediately think of Hubie’s Bar. Hubie’s has been around for decades and you are one of the musicians responsible for starting this great landmark jazz club. Please elaborate on your experience.

Hubie’s Bar was a miracle and there was a beautiful women involved. Margaret Gibbons mentioned my name to Hubert Brown. Hubie wanted music in his bar. His thought was to have a solo piano player perform on the weekends. My thoughts were to have a full size band. We got together with Mike Stowe (drums), Dayton Wharton (guitar), Leroy Richardson (bass) and Doc Simmons (sax), and later on Jade Minors took over the sax position. In the early days there were more people working at Hubie’s Bar then patronizing Hubie’s Bar. However with time and the spread of the news of a great product, namely the band “Jaz”, Hubie’s was born. Hubie’s Bar won the “Best of the Best Gold awards” in the entertainment division for a nightclub with the band Jaz seven years in succession. Many thanks to Hubert Brown, now passed, and his beautiful bride, Molly Brown. Thank you for believing in me.