Phillip Bent
b. London, England. Bent played the recorder at school then went on to study flute because he wanted a bigger sound. Sound itself, the exploration of textures, is important to him, but there is nothing academic or abstract about his music. He uses amplified flute—essential when there are electric instruments in his band—and rhythms from rock, funk and reggae. Like many of his generation of black British players he grew up on reggae, funk and soul and was attracted to jazz by hearing Louis Armstrong, Harold McNair and Miles Davis. Davis is clearly the most important influence in his work, but Bent is dedicated to developing his own voice on his own terms. He was a member of the Jazz Warriors, appearing on their live debut, OUT OF MANY ONE PEOPLE (1987).