A Takoma Park, Maryland, resident, blues musician, teacher and artistic director, two-time winner of the prestigious WC Handy Blues Foundation awards, Phil is only the third harmonica player to receive the lifetime honor of an NEA National Heritage Fellowship. Today he is the only living player of the instrument to hold the prestigious honor of being a “Master of Traditional Arts.” Often referred to by its unofficial designation as “Living Cultural Treasure” award, the fellowship honors and preserves the diverse cultural heritage in the United States. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) annually awards one-time-only NEA National Heritage Fellowships to master folk and traditional artists, to recognize lifetime achievement, artistic excellence, and contributions to our nation’s traditional arts heritage.

Phil is joined by the Chesapeake Sheiks—Matt Kelly on guitar, Marcus Moore on violin, Ian Walters on piano, and Steve Wolf on bass—playing blues from the Piedmont and Delta as well as the music of Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Louis Jordan, Slim and Slam, and  originals.

“Phil is among a very small handful of virtuosos whose command of his instrument takes my breath away. His talent rivals that of any artist I’ve encountered in my career in Classical music, in my view placing him in the company of the Yo-Yo Mas and the Joshua Bells of the world.”

– Scott Freck, Vice President for Artistic Operations & General Manager North Carolina Symphony