Hailed as "an imaginative composer and an extraordinarily musical soloist," drummer Phil Parisot offers a fresh take on acoustic jazz. The Seattle native began playing professionally at age 15. While a student at Garfield High School, he played at Lincoln Center, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Montreux Jazz Festival. Parisot then studied music at William Paterson University under the tutelage of James Williams and Harold Mabern. He also studied privately with jazz drumming legends Joe LaBarbera, Bill Goodwill, Carl Allen, and Rashied Ali.
In over 20 years as a key contributor to Seattle’s renowned jazz scene, Parisot appeared at a wide variety of clubs, festivals, and concert halls supporting small groups, big bands, and vocalists. He was a regular performer at the legendary venue Tula’s (featured in Downbeat Magazine's Guide of 100 Great International Jazz Clubs), in addition to Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley and The Triple Door. Parisot has contributed to numerous studio recordings with the city’s top jazz artists, many of which have earned critical praise. As an educator, Parisot has taught at Cornish College of the Arts, Central Washington University, and Seattle Drum School.
Parisot has released three albums as a leader: Inventions, Creekside, and Lingo. These recordings have received extensive radio play and positive reviews in the jazz press, including notable mention in All About Jazz, JAZZIZ, and Modern Drummer. In recent years, Parisot has focused on composing original pieces as well as arranging material from the rock bands whose music he absorbed in his youth. This activity has resulted in the development of a unique approach including attractive melodies, rich harmonies, and multi-layered rhythms. The combination of these elements gives Parisot’s writing an original and distinctively pleasing sound, as can be heard on Inventions as well as upcoming releases covering music by Nirvana, Alice and Chains, and Soundgarden.
Phil Parisot currently resides in Arizona.