Remembering Barre Phillips and Tom Johnson
Two adventurous pioneers of American music passed away just before the arrival of the new year. Born in San Francisco, Barre Phillips was a virtuoso jazz and avant-garde bassist. His 1968 album, Journal Violone, featuring a series of solo improvisations, is credited as the first solo double bass record. Active in the free jazz movement, Phillips collaborated with artists including Ornette Coleman and Archie Shepp. In the 1970s, Phillips was a member …